THE    GENEALOGIC 


AL    TR  EE. 


THE 


SIXTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 


MARRIAGE 


JOHN  J.  AND  SARAH  ANN  KNOX, 


OCTOBER  ith,  1873. 


FOR      PRIVATE      CIRCULATION. 


NEW  YORK  : 
PRINTED    BY    EDWARD    O.    JENKINS, 

2O  NORTH   WILLIAM   STREET. 


THE    DIAMOND   WEDDING. 


WHETHER  Diamond  is  the  proper  name  or  not,  it  was 
diamond  to  us — more  happy  than  even  the  happy  days 
of  the  Golden  Week  ten  years  before.  We  thought  that 
nothing  could  surpass  the  Golden  Wedding,  but  this  truly 
surpassed  that  as  diamonds  surpass  gold.  Both  those  delight- 
ful weeks  were  richer  and  purer  than  anything  of  common 
earth  ;  but  if  sparkle  and  flashes  of  light,  and  steady  lustre, 
and  gentle  glow,  and  transparent  purity,  and  undimmed 
value,  are  represented  by  the  diamond,  that  was  a  true 
Diamond  Wedding.  Even  if  the  beloved  and  honored 
pair  should  see  the  veritable  seventy-fifth  anniversary, 
that  joyous  day  could  only  be  a  larger  and  more  brilliant, 
but  not  a  purer  diamond. 

^  The  "  Circular  Letter "  which  took  its  origin  from  the 
happy  influences  of  the  Golden  Wedding,  helped  not  a 
little  in  preparing  the  more  elaborate  week  of  ten  years 
later.  The  family  were  together  at  the  Golden  Wedding 
but  two  days,  although  earlier  arrivals  and  later  departures 
and  our  free  participation  in  each  other's  plans  made  it 
nearly  a  family-week  ;  but  it  was  early  suggested  by  those 
whose  hospitality  would  be  largely  increased  by  such  a  thing, 
that  we  should  make  this  a  full  week  of  domestic  celebra- 
tion and  enjoyment.  How  to  do  it,  and  not  to  burden  the 
worthy  bride  and  groom  themselves  with  the  cares  of  prep- 


20131S7 


4  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

aration  and  hospitality,  was  a  problem.  A  score  of  children, 
more  than  a  score  of  living  grandchildren,  four  great-grand- 
children, two  scores  at  least  of  beloved  "  collaterals  "  and 
old-time  friends  whose  presence  we  might  naturally  expect — 
the  very  thought  of  it  all,  might  be  too  full  of  care,  even  to 
that  energetic  and  industrious  woman  who,  at  seventy-eight, 
was  supreme  keeper  of  her  own  house.  The  "Extra  Circu- 
lar^ carefully  kept  from  the  old  homestead,  freighted  with  its 
wise  and  loving  suggestions,  together  with  the  large  hearts, 
willing  hands,  and  inventive  ski II  of  the  other  house,  solved 
the  question.  We  would  set  up  a  house  of  our  own.  It  should 
be  a  Wedding  Hall.  It  should  stand  on  the  croquet-ground 
and  fill  its  boundaries.  It  should  be  tight  and  comfortable, 
day  and  evening.  It  should  have  its  culinary  department. 
And  having  set  up  our  independent  establishment,  we  would 
invite  the  bride  to  be  the  guest  of  our  own  hospitality  and 
table.  The  bridegroom,  buoyant  and  alert  always,  we  knew 
could  adapt  himself  to  all  occasions.  And  so  the  occasion 
should  begin  on  Friday  and  Saturday,  the  third  and  fourth, 
culminate  on  the  grand  Tuesday,  the  seventh,  and  end  on 
Friday  or  Saturday  again. 

There  was  another  preliminary  question — what  should  the 
occasion  be  f  How  should  we  venture  on  invitations,  and 
yet  not  gather  three  or  four  hundred  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances to  feast  with  us,  and  congratulate  !  How  should  we 
give  a  public  invitation  to  come  to  the  church,  and  yet  avoid 
a  stately  and  stiff  affair !  The  "  Extra  Circular  "  helped 
the  solution  again.  We  would,  with  help  of  piano  and 
organ,  and  "  Auld  Lang  Syne,"  and  "  Home,  Sweet  Home," 
breathe  into  the  exercises  at  the  church  a  social  glow,  and 


THE  DIAMOND  WEDDING.  5 

give  a  general  public  invitation  to  all  who  might  be  disposed 
to  come.  Then  we  would  have  a  grand  family  feast  in  the 
afternoon,  with  such  old-time  friends  from  out  of  town  as 
could  be  informally  pressed  in  from  the  church. 

With  these  preliminaries  settled,  and  all  other  details 
entrusted  to  wise  persons,  the  Circular  of  September  sped 
on  its  course,  while  the  Wedding  Hall  lifted  up  its  ample 
proportions  on  the  Croquet-ground. 

To  make  up  for  absence  before,  the  St.  Paul  family 
arrived  first,  and  gave  the  people  of  the  "other  house"  a 
genuine  surprise  early  on  Friday  morning.  The  New  York 
and  Albany  daughters  had  indeed  already  come  by  appoint- 
ment two  or  three  days  before,  to  be  the  hostesses  and 
keepers  at  the  Hall.  Then  came  she,  who  in  a  frolic,  years 
ago,  said  "Now  for  a  husband  !  "  and  with  her  the  identical 
man  himself  whom  she  then  found  at  the  end  of  that  chaise- 
ride — bringing  also  with  them  a  stately  matron  who  had 
been  helper  in  the.  old  house  in  her  girlhood.  Close  upon 
them  came  the  Bloomh'eld  flock,  with  "  Andrew's  son  "  as  a 
-driver  from  Clinton,  and  with  a  sick  baby,  who  came  only 
by  permission  of  the  doctor ;  then  the  two  boys,  a  senior  and  a 
junior,  from  College  Hill,  and  then  at  tea-time,  the  Ehnira 
bishop,  with  Ehnira  and  Albany  grandchildren.  The  four 
tables  were  already  set  in  Diamond  shape  in  the  llall,  the 
reliable  "  help "  of  ten  years  was  already  installed  in  the 
kitchen,  and  that  domestic  arrangment — "  simply  splendid  !" 
and  "  simply  perfect ! " — prepared  by  the  sister-at-home  and 
sister-of-thc-other-house,  and  handsomely  inaugurated  by  the 
sisters-arrived,  was  admired  and  commended  by  thirty-two 


6  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

persons  at  the  opening  "  tea."  A  stirring  story  of  escape  from 
accident  was  told  later  in  the  evening,  by  the  one  who  had 
absented  himself  from  the  table  to  bring  the  "  Philadelphia 
cousin "  from  the  railroad ;  but  the  cousin  did  not  come 
that  night  after  all.  The  one  hundred  and  third  psalm,  and 
a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  in  the  familiar  household  voice, 
inaugurated  the  morning  and  evening  devotions  of  our 
festive  dwelling.  Talk  and  news  from  those  still  on  their 
way  filled  full  the  evening.  Pains  were  taken  that  no 
"  chicks  "  that  would  crow  by  night  or  day  should  go  to  the 
old  house.  And  everywhere,  everybody  found  that  his 
place  for  the  night  was  the  most  comfortable  and  the  "best 
of  all ;"  a  true  genius  for  packing  away  families  into 
ample  apartments,  having  seized  the  housekeepers  of  the  two 
houses. 

The  tables  were  a  lively  place  the  next  morning  at  the 
appointed  hour.  The  fourteenth  psalm  followed,  and  the 
singing  of  the  second  Golden  Wedding  Hymn, — 

"  In  childhood's  happy  days, 

Within  this  place  of  prayer, 
We  poured  our  cheerful  song  of  praise, 

And  cast  on  God  our  care." 

The  brother  who  led  the  devotions  recognizing  his  provi- 
dential preservation  from  accident  the  evening  before. 
u  Notice  time  "  was  established  to  be  daily,  directly  after 
morning  prayers,  and  two  granddaughters  were  assigned 
the  direction  of  the  family  comforts  for  the  day.  Consulta- 
tions took  place  here ;  family  news  was  discussed  there ; 
grandchildren  ran  to  the  store,  or  explored  the  gardens  and 
grounds  for  grapes  and  fruits  ;  details  in  comfort  and  adorn- 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  7 

merit  of  the  Hall  were  looked  after ;  antiquities  spied  out  and 
posted  for  inspection  ;  carriage  and  good  man  despatched 
again  for  the  a  Philadelphia  cousin  ;  "  arrangements  made 
for  afternoon  arrivals  by  train  ;  great  secrets  whispered  ; 
and  all  the  high  notes  and  low  notes  of  little  and  large 
people  filled  the  houses  and  old  haunts. 

The  dinner-hour  and  the  cousin  from  Philadelphia  came 
together  at  one  o'clock.  There  was  a  good  appetite  for 
both  and  a  most  cordial  reception  of  the  new  guest.  Then 
went  up  a  new  swing — a  Vernon  boat-swing — in  the  front 
trees  of  the  yard,  and  shortly  after  came  a  dominie's  wife 
and  "  Kob  "  on  a  hay-rack  from  over  the  western  hills,  who, 
having  missed  connection,  declined  to  finish  their  journey 
in  any  ordinary  conveyance.  The  little  ones  went  sky-high 
in  the  swing,  and  all  but  the  little  ones  went  soon  on  a 
jolly  and  jolting  ride,  and  soon  too  came  home  shouting  with 
a  load  of  greens  for  trimming. 

After  the  tea  and  the  evening  devotions,  led  by  the  next 
brother,  the  decoration  of  the  Hall  went  merrily  on.  Then 
came  the  Oswego  load  from  the  western  train,  and  later 
still  the  Washington  people,  guided  over  the  carriage  road 
from  Utica  by  the  young  Utica  lawyer.  Much  lamenta- 
tion was  made  that  little  Bessie  had  been  left  behind,  but 
little  Carrie,  with  her  winsome  ways  and  sweet  songs,  soon 
found  a  place  in  every  heart,  cared  for,  as  she  was,  by  her 
good  nurse,  "  Aunt  Dorsey."  Late  in  the  night  mysterious 
knockings  disturbed  the  slumbers  of  the  other  house,  until 
at  last  a  New  Jersey  parson  was  discovered  locked  in  the 
attic  by  mistake,  where  he  had  extemporized  an  antiquarian 
and  literary  shop  of  family  letters,  books,  and  documents, 


8  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

out   of    which   he  was  plotting   reminiscences   for  future 
use. 

Sunday  came  cool  and  bright,  a  day  of  sacred  associations 
in  the  old  house,  bringing  its  memories  and  conversations 
of  the  old  church,  the  line  of  good  pastors,  the  recent 
division  of  the  old  congregation  into  two  parts,  the  attract- 
ive renovation  of  the  edifice  at  "  the  centre,"  the  taste- 
ful new  edifice  at  the  'Boro,  the  enterprise  and  prosperity 
of  the  Methodist  people,  the  decease  of  sainted  members, 
and  the  arrangement  for  participation  in  the  services  of  the 
day.  The  morning  prayers,  with  Deuteronomy  vi.  for  the 
Scripture,  and  a  Sabbath  hymn,  were  conducted  by  the 
youngest  son.  The  two  ministers  of  the  family  responded 
to  the  invitations  of  the  pastors  in  charge,  and  preached  in 
the  two  churches — the  youngest  in  the  morning  at  the 
church  where  all,  for  so  many  years,  had  heard  the  faithful 
preaching,  and  the  older  at  the  new  church,  presenting  a 
"  household  picture  "  from  the  text  at  Psalm  cxxviii.  6 : 
"  Yea,  thou  shalt  see  thy  children's  children  and  peace  upon 
Israel."  The  Kev.  Franklin  A.  Spencer  assisted  in  the 
services,  who  himself  a  Sabbath  after  made  pleasing  al- 
lusion to  the  family  festival.  The  St.  Paul  elder  made  an 
address  to  the  Sunday-school,  a  school  composed  of  all  ages, 
from  Sarah  Knox  of  seventy-eight  to  a  Sarah  Knox  of  six. 
Invitations  to  the  public  exercises  of  the  following  Tuesday 
were  given  at  all  the  churches.  In  the  afternoon  at  four 
o'clock  the  older  minister  preached  in  the  old  church,  now 
so  transformed  into  modern  style  as  scarcely  to  be  recog- 
nized. Cousin  Kitty  read  u  Both  Sides  of  the  Street,"  an 
eager  boy's  own  selection  from  the  Sunday-school  library, 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDIXG.  9 

to  a  group  who  followed  her  from  orchard  to  house-steps, 
and  from  house-steps  to  the  hall.  The  Sunday-school  melo- 
deon  appeared  also  in  the  Hall,  and  at  five  o'clock  began  a 
good  hour  of  Sunday  singing,  ending  in  a  good,  wholesome, 
fatherly  talk  on  the  importance  of  the  Sabbath,  and  followed 
by  conversation  on  the  subject,  and  the  evening  prayer  by 
the  older  minister.  At  the  evening  service  in  the  new  church, 
the  sermon  on  "Ko  continuing  city  "  was  preached  by  the 
younger  minister  from  Hebrews  xiii.  14,  and  showed  that 
household  thoughts  of  the  heavenly  city  make  the  earthly 
home  bright  and  attractive.  The  Rev.  Willis  Gaylord, 
grandson  of  the  clergyman  who  performed  the  ceremony  at 
the  original  wedding,  took  part  in  the  services.  The  new 
organ  that  day,  for  the  first  time,  had  assisted  the  worship. 
The  blessed  power  of  cheerful  Sabbath  observances  per- 
vaded the  closing  hours  of  that  .good  day. 

Rain  and  showers  gave  variety  on  Monday.  After  the 
breakfast  and  family  devotions,  flags,  banners,  photographs, 
evergreens  and  autumn  leaves  in  diamond  monograms, 
were  added  to  the  decorations.  Quiet  visiting  talks  held 
their  way  also  at  the  stove-side  or  in  either  house.  In  the 
midst  of  the  buzz  and  tack-hammering  the  door  opened  and 
in  walked  the  Washington  boy.  Eight  arms  went  up  and  out 
and  around  him  in  one  grand  infoliate  squeeze  from  the  four 
brothers  amid  a  shout  and  laugh  which  echoed  through  the 
'Boro,  while  somebody  struck  up  in  comic  style  :  "  We're 
a  band  of  brothers.'' 

Dinner  was  exhilarating,  and  there  was  no  end — except  at 
the  end — of  the  drollery  fired  from  table  to  table.  Decora- 


10  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

tions  and  preparations  were  in  progress,  too,  during  the 
afternoon  at  the  church  in  vines,  leaves,  and  flowers  in 
monogram.  One  of  mother's  favorites,  "  Glory  to  Thee,  my 
God,  this  night,"  was  sung  at  evening  prayers.  The  Albany 
merchant,  the  Troy  grandchildren,  with  two  great-grand- 
children came  through  the  cool  light  rain  from  the  evening 
train,  and  with  them  one  whose  name  had  been  announced 
among  those  of  the  distinguished  artists  to  assist  at  the 
grand  organ  concert  on  Wednesday  evening.  The  hand- 
bills had  already  been  distributed  far  and  wide,  assuring  the 
musical  public  that  "  a  combination  of  musical  talent  of  so 
superior  a  character,"  furnished  an  "  opportunity  not  here- 
tofore enjoyed  in  this  vicinity,  and  one  not  to  be  experienced 
again,"  "  the  avails  of  the  entertainment  to  be  devoted  to 
the  organ  fund  of  the  church." 

The  music  practice,  therefore,  went  on  during  the  same 
evening  at  the  church.  One  grandchild  remembers  dis- 
tinctly that  he  blew  the  organ,  and  that  "  Auntie  played 
six  loud  pieces"  until  he  was  almost  "  blowed "  him- 
self. 

The  great  day — Tuesday — dawned  cheerful.  There  was 
snow  on  "  the  Madison  Hills,"  on  which  rested  the  sun  dur- 
ing the  morning,  renewing  a  sight  familiar  to  all  in  childhood. 
The  hives  poured  out  their  swarms  for  breakfast.  The  nine 
children  were  all  present,  the  children-iri-law  with  them, 
twenty-one  grandchildren  and  two  great-grandchildren,  and 
good  friends  besides,  and  all  sat  down  in  high  spirits  and  ex- 
pectation. The  greetings  and  the  buzz  gave  way  at  length 
to  songs.  Merry  grandchildren  and  sympathetic  children 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  11 

rendered  with  lively  enthusiasm  the  grandchildren's  after- 
breakfast  song  at  the  Golden  wedding  : 

"  We've  come  to  the  good  old  homestead 
Where  live  the  good  old  folks,"  etc. 

with  its  chorus : 

"  Then  come  to  the  wedding,'"  etc. 

Then  followed  "  Delightful  Knoxboro  "  with  all  the  varia- 
tions of  that  decidedly  picturesque  and  voluminous  and 
many  -  sourced  song.  *  When  this  exhilaration  quieted 
down  for  family  devotions,  each  person  had  come  with  a 
Scripture  verse  appropriate  to  the  day,  and  pleasant  were 
the  adaptations  to  the  occasion  and  to  those  who  were  the 


*  For  fear  this  valuable  and  unique  production  may  be  lost,  and 
future  generations  of  the  family  may  not  have  the  profit  of  its  lively 
inspiration,  the  verses  are  here  preserved.  It  sprung  up  spontaneous- 
ly after  a  celebrated  picnic  occasion,  when  the  glen  and  its  waterfall  had 
had  a  visit.  Some  of  the  ladies  had  a  chase  by  animals  bellowing  or 
about  to  bellow,  and  furious  or  about  to  become  furious,  as  was  sup- 
posed ;  hence  the  alarm  expressed  in  one  of  the  stanzas.  Additions 
of  verses,  here  and  there,  came  afterwards  into  the  stream  of  verse 
thus  set  aflow,  like  the  swift,  trickling  rills  which  run  to  make  the 
glen  brook.  As  this  volume  is  to  circulate  only  within  the  limits  of 
this  honest  family,  we  have  no  solicitude  that  the  copyright  will  be 
stolen. 

DELIGHTFUL  KNOXBORO. 

AIR. — '  'Benny  Havens,  0  !  " 
There  is  a  ville  no  bright  and  fair, 

Its  name  you  all  must  know  ; 
The  scene  around  is  bold  and  rare, 
Delightful  Knoxboro. 

CHORUS. 

The  ville  of  Knoxboro, 

The  ville  of  Knoxboro, 

It  is  a  place  that  can't  be  beat, 

This  ville  of  Knoxboro. 


12  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

occa&ion  of  the  occasion.  The  second  Golden  Wedding 
hymn  was  sung.  After  the  prayer,  stepped  forth  the  Oswego 
lawyer,  whose  marked  characteristics  are  compression  of 
speech,  and  compression  of  penmanship,  and  compact  good 
sense,  and  in  tit  and  gracious  words,  made  the  presentation 
of  the  wedding  gift.  He  was  answered  by  one  of  the  honor- 
able pair,  who,  in  words  as  quick  and  fit  as  his  own,  with 
mother  wit  responded,  that  her  children  must  have  a  dif- 
ferent Bible  from  her  own,  as  she  had  been  accustomed  to 
read,  "  that  the  children  ought  not  to  lay  up  for  the  parents, 
but  the  parents  for  the  children."  This  wedding  gift  was 
simply  the  enlargement  of  the  parental  sleeping- room  in  the 
old  mansion,  with  appropriate  furniture,  adornments,  em- 
broideries, mottoss,  etc.,  furnished  in  detail  by  many  loving 


Invited  there  in  Summer  time 

We  willing  are  to  go  ; 
Though  many  hills  we  have  to  climb, 

To  airy  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

The  dear  old  Homestead  stil!  is  there 

As  fifty  years  ago  ; 
With  open  doors  and  ample  fare, 

Ancestral  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

Our  hearts  to  measures  soft  do  chime, 

Our  pulses  are  not  slow ; 
Our  words,  how  easily  they  rhyme, 

In  tuneful  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

We  take  croquet  and  morning  air, 

Out  on  the  green  plateau  ; 
The  boys  are  true,  the  girls  are  fair, 

In  sportive  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

And  then  the  song  and  serenade, 

Flute,  cornet,  piano, 
Melodious  the  evening  made, 

In  gleeful  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

One  day  we  went  adown  the  glen, 
Where  waterfalls  do  flow  ; 


THE   DIAMOND   WEDDING.  13 

hands  of  children  and  grandchildren  and  great-grandchil- 
dren, and  suited  to  the  dignity  and  worth  of  those  honored, 
and  designed  for  the  comfort  and  enjoyment  of  their  old 
age,  so  that  by  day  and  night,  in  life  or  in  death,  their  eyes 
might  rest  on  the  tokens  of  their  children's  affection  and 
esteem  : — a  gift  more  pleasing  to  those  who  received  and  to 
those  who  gave  it,  than  all  gold  and  diamonds.  During 
the  happy  thoughts  which  bubbled  in  speech  and  look  and 
talk,  the  New  York  grandson,  last  of  all,  arrived,  and  friends 
from  out  of  town  and  town  acquaintance  were  gathering  at 
the  church.  The  pulpit-front  had  its  suitable  floral  mono- 
gram in  initials  and  dates ;  the  piano,  at  the  pulpit,  stood 
ready  to  respond  to  the  organ  in  the  loft.  The  bride  and 
bridegroom  were  conducted  by  their  sons  to  their  seats  of 

What  dreadful  beasts  assailed  us  then, 
In  thrilling  Knoxboro  ! — CUOKUS. 

A  picnic  grand  we  did  essay, 

While  loud  the  horn  did  blow 
For  dinne:,  tea,  and  "I  spy  "  play, 

In  rural  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

The  factories,  cheese  and  hardware, 

And  ball-match  were  on  show ; 
So  varied  the  amusements  are 

In  lively  Knoxboro  !— CHORUS. 

And  oh  !  the  drives  and  horseback  rides, 

The  country  to  and  fro  ; 
What  place  affords  the  like  besides 

Picturesque  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

But  time,  alas  !  doth  all  things  end, 

Which  are  enjoyed  below  ; 
The  weeks  are  gone,  or  ere  we  ken'd, 

In  charming  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 

We  pause — one  grateful  song  to  raise, 

Before  we  hence  can  go  : 
A  song  in  fervent,  heartfelt  praise, 

Of  glorious  Knoxboro  ! — CHORUS. 


14  THE   DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

honor,  at  the  head  of  the  aisle,  and  the  family  followed,  as 
the  organ  beneath  the  fingers  of  a  daughter,  filled  the  air 
with  Mendelssohn's  Wedding  March  and  variations  of  Auld 
Lang  Syne.  At  ]ength  the  variations  modulated  into  a 
transition,  when  the  piano,  beneath  the  fingers  of  daughter 
and  granddaughter,  caught  up  the  strain,  and  then  the 
voices  of  the  family  broke  out  in  harmony, 

"  Shall  old  acquaintance  be  forgot 
And  never  brought  to  mind,"  etc. 

"  Our  parents  toiled  about  these  hills 

And  built  the  mansion  fine ; 
They  children  reared,  with  mony  a  care, 
In  auld  lang  syne,"  etc. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  song,  "Brother  James"  an- 
nounced that  the  character  of  these  exercises  was  intended 
to  be  quite  domestic  and  social,  and  as  if  among  ourselves, 
and  that  "  Brother  John  "  would  preside.  Brother  John 
invited  the  Rev.  Franklin  A.  Spencer,  acting-pastor  of  the 
church,  to  offer  prayer,  after  which  the  assembly  were  in- 
vited to  join  the  family  in  a  hymn,  already  distributed  by 
two  grandchildren. 

THE   THANKSGIVING  HYMN. 

BY  C.  E.  K. 

O  Father  of  the  Heavenly  Home, 

To  Thee  with  gratitude  we  come ; 

Thy  house  the  place  where  we  would  raise 

For  years  of  blessing,  joyful  praise. 

The  earthly  home  is  Thy  design, 
To  teach  by  love  the  love  divine  ; 
By  guided  steps  to  old  age  trod, 
To  lead  the  children  up  to  God. 


THE      CHURCH. 


16  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

These  three-score  years,  our  parents,  Thou 
With  gracious  favor  didst  endow ; 
We  children,  and  our  children,  bless 
Thy  covenant  love  and  faithfulness. 

For  life  prolonged  and  house  preserved, 
For  discipline  which  has  not  swerved. 
For  tested  love  through  smiles  and  tears, 
We  thank  Thee,  Guardian  of  these  years. 

For  Scripture-truth  and  daily  prayer, 
For  reverent  Sabbaths,  pious  care, 
For  value  set  on  life  in  Thee, 
Praise  to  their  great  Instructor  be  ! 

For  generations  one  by  one, 
To  hand  these  blessings  onward  down 
From  wide-spread  homes,  met  here  this  day, 
Our  praise  shall  be  to  Thee  alway. 

We  enter  now  through  Zion's  gates 
Thy  dwelling,  where  Thy  glory  waits — 
Light  Thou  our  dwellings  from  this  place, 
Shine  through  this  home-life  with  Thy  grace. 

The  leader  of  the  exercises  then  made  an  introductory 
address. 

INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS. 

BY   JOHN   JAY   KNOX. 

It  seems  but  yesterday  when  we  were  boys  and  girls  with 
many  of  you  attending  the  district  school,  crossing  the  fields 
to  the  academy,  and  gathering  weekly  in  yonder  church. 
It  was  but  yesterday  that  you  and  I  as  boys  \vere  sliding 
•down  the  Brewery  hill,  fishing  and  bathing  in  the  brook, 
picking  apples  in  the  orchard,  strawberries  in  the  meadows, 
and  blackberries  in  the  ravines,  gathering  the  beachnnt  and 
the  butternut  in  the  wood,  and  tasting  the  sap  and  the 
sweetest  of  sugars  from  the  bountiful  and  beautiful  maple, 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  17 

which  has  to-day  welcomed  us  back  to  these  hills,  attired  in 
its  royal  garments  of  green  and  gold.  We  went  away  from 
the  homestead,  and  our  experience,  though  different  in  kind, 
has  not  been  dissimilar  from  that  of  other  groups  of  chil- 
dren who  have  gone  out  from  their  homes  to  seek  their  for- 
tune. A  favorite  and  beloved  sister  has  gone  to  a  better  world. 
The  rest  of  us  have  had  each  our  varied  experience ;  our  skies 
have  sometimes  been  clear  and  beautiful ;  at  other  times 
overclouded.  We  have  passed  through  storms  and  darkness ; 
we  have  enjoyed  the  sunshine  and  the  flowers,  and  been 
blessed  with  the  love  and  society  of  little  children.  We 
mourn  over  no  disasters  and  disappointments;  we  boast 
of  no  achievements  ;  but  on  thic  the  happiest  and  most 
joyous  occasion  of  our  lives,  we  come  from  the  Missis- 
sippi, from  Ontario,  from  the  Susquehanna,  from  the  Hud- 
son, and  the  Potomac,  to  mingle  our  congratulations  with 
our  kindred  and  our  old  neighbors  and  friends.  If  we 
return  honest  men,  it  is  owing  in  part  that  we  were  born  at 
the  homestead,  that  we  breathed  the  pure  atmosphere  of 
the  Augusta  hills,  that  we  associated  in  our  boyhood  with 
the  honest  men  and  women  who  dwell  in  these  pleasant 
places ;  but  chiefly  that  from  our  infancy  we  were  blessed 
with  the  religious  instruction,  the  counsel  and  admonition 
of  a  kind,  devoted,  just,  and  generous  father  and  mother, 
the  anniversary  of  whose  sixtieth  wedding  day  we  have 
now  met  to  celebrate. 

The  occasion  is  not  intended  to  be  stiff  and  stately,  but 
informal  and  hospitable,  and  we  cordially  invite  you  all  to 
enter  into  these  exercises  with  the  spirit  and  simplicity  that 

becomes  the  occasion. 
2 


18  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

The  presiding  speaker  then  announced  that  the  genera- 
tion of  our  father  and  mother,  and  the  ancient  ancestry 
of  the  family  were  to  have  been  represented  by  "  Uncle 
James,"  who  was,  however,  on  the  sea,  having  taken  the 
steamer  from  Germany  on  October  first,  and,  of  course,  una- 
ble to  be  present  on  this  occasion.  His  place  would  be  sup- 
plied by  "Brother  William."  A  family  coat -of -arms,  a 
heraldric  history  of  the  Knox  clan,  the  original  first  account- 
book  of  "the  store ''  when  the  young  merchant  began,  and 
the  new  genealogical  tree,  furnished  him  a  variety  of  mate- 
rials with  which,  in  becoming  gravity  to  illustrate  his  sub- 
ject— with  Knox  Ehodes  on  the  platform  to  help  him  ex- 
hibit. 

THE  GENERATION  OF  FATHER  AND  MOTHER,  TOGETHER 
WITH  THE  ANCIENT  ANCESTRY. 

BY    KEV.    WILLIAM     E.    KNOX.* 

It  was  often  said  at  the  Golden  Wedding  in  1863,  that 
the  occasion  was  such  as  we  could  not  expect  to  see  again. 
To  the  human  eye  it  was  improbable.  At  that  gathering 
there  were  present  eight  of  the  ten  children  ;  nineteen  of 
the  tvrenty-one  grandchildren — in  all,  twenty-nine  of  a  fam- 
ily whose  surviving  and  deceased  members  numbered  forty. 
It  was  enough  to  have  enjoyed  that  auspicious  festival :  we 
did  not  care  to  look  into  the  distance  beyond.  To-day,  that 
then  distant  future  is  with  us,  through  what  favor  of  Divine 

*  The  most  persistent  endeavor  has  not  been  successful  in  gaining 
a  verbatim  copy  of  this  address.  The  author  we  know  is  not  accus- 
tomed either  to  public  speech,  or  to  the  use  of  the  pen :  we  are 
obliged  therefore  to  be  content  with  a  substitute  only. 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  19 

Providence  1  This  is  the  Diamond  Wedding,  and  it  shines 
to  our  eyes  with  a  lustrous  beauty  worthy  its  name.  Most 
unexpectedly  we  are  here  in  fuller  numbers  of  the  elder 
members  of  the  family  than  at  the  Golden  festival.  First 
of  nil,  our  dear  honored  parents  are  spared  to  us  with  health 
and  strength  unusual  to  their  octogenarian  years.  Nine, 
instead  of  eight  of  their  ten  children  are  present,  bringing 
twenty-one  grandchildren  and  two  great-grandchildren  in 
place  of  the  nineteen  of  1863.  Our  total  numbers  during 
the  week  wherein  we  have  made  the  w7alls  of  the  old  home- 
stead ring  with  gladness,  are  forty-four  of  a  family  whose 
living  and  deceased  members  are  sixty-two. 

Memorable  day  indeed !  The  first  thought  is  of  God's 
abounding  mercy,  permitting  us  in  such  full  numbers  to 
behold  it.  The  prophecy  of  three  thousand  years  ago  is  ful- 
filled anew  in  our  history  :  "  One  generation  shall  praise  thy 
name  to  another,  and  shall  declare  thy  mighty  acts.  The 
living,  the  living  shall  praise  Thee  as  we  do  this  day;  the 
father  to  the  children  shall  make  known  Thy  truth." 

I  am  to  speak  a  few  introductory  words  in  the  place  of 
an  honored  relative  we  had  hoped  to  have  in  our  company 
to-day,  but  who  is  detained  on  a  foreign  shore  longer  than 
he  expected.  If  he  may  chance  to  be  now  on  his  ocean  voy- 
age, he  will  probably  arrive  too  late  for  even  the  conclud- 
ing hours  of  our  festival  week.  He  would  have  carried  us 
back  to  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  the  youth  of  our 
parents,  if  not  to  the  times  of  an  ancestry  of  whom  it  is 
permitted  most  of  us  to  know  only  by  report.  As  it  is,  I 
can  only  do  the  best  with  such  materials  as  I  chance  to  have 
in  hand. 


20  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

The  speaker  here  proceeded  to  exhibit  an  heraldric 
document,  more  pretentious  and  nattering  than  positively 
authentic,  but  which  helped  to  amuse  the  imagination  of 
the  younger  folk  present,  with  the  extraordinary  and  some- 
times very  ordinary  names  emblazoned  on  the  family  es- 
cutcheon. He  began  to  read  the  first  sentence,  "  This  fam- 
ily derives  its  descent  from  Adam  " — and,  after  the  laugh 
came  in,  finished — "  son  of  Utrecht,"  etc.  Kings,  knights, 
noblemen,  and  men  not  very  noble  in  name  or  deed  might 
be  found  by  searching  carefully  for  them.  The  exhibitor  did 
not  know  out  of  what  heraldric  college  this  valuable  parch- 
ment had  graduated ;  but  as  it  was  afforded  to  all  growing 
families  at  a  moderate  fee,  he  himself  did  not  regret  the 
insignificant  surn  (which  may  have  been  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, orfive  dollars,)  that  some  ambitious  sprig  of  the  Knox 
family  had  paid  for  it. 

The  yellow-complexioned  original  first  account-book,  that 
bore  on  its  face  unmistakable  evidence  of  age,  was  then 
opened.  It  had  been  exhumed  from  the  archives  in  the 
store-loft,  as  a  significant  witness  to  the  day  of  small  things, 
not  to  be  despised,  out  of  which  the  greater  things  that 
were  to  come  had  issued.  It  bore  testimony,  too,  to  the 
altered  fashion  of  a  later  store-keeping,  which  dealt  more 
exclusively  in  dry-goods  and  groceries,  and  less  in  certain 
creature-comforts,  that  in  the  end,  with  the  aid  of  Dr.  Ly- 
man  Beecher's  "  six  sermons "  made  the  merchant's  con- 
science too  uncomfortable  to  enjoy  the  profit  of  their  sale. 
It  was  noticeable,  however,  that  one  customer  in  this  de- 
partment had  lived  to  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  one 
years,  an  incident  which  our  zealous  temperance  speaker 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  21 

turned  into  an  occasion  of  warning  to  the  young  people  pres- 
ent :  "  Since  nobody  could  have  told  how  much  longer  he 
might  have  lived,  on  a  different  diet."  A  few  words  were 
here  interposed  on  the  early  date  of  the  Temperance  Reform 
in  this  locality;  and  which,  beginning  at  the  counter  of  the 
young  merchant,  had  extended  its  benign  influence  over  the 
entire  neighborhood. 

The  reverend  brother  next  brought  forward  a  splendid 
genealogical  tree,  prepared  for  the  occasion  by  one  of  the 
sisters  (Mrs.  Anderson),  and  whose  fine  proportions  riveted 
all  admiring  eyes.  There  was  no  mistake  in  this  case  about 
the  "  three  brothers  who  came  over  in  a  ship,'1  for  there  was 
a  drawing  of  the  ship  lying  off  shore  over  against  the  tree. 
There  was  the  tree  dividing  at  a  suitable  distance  from  the 
root  into  three  shapely  and  fruitful  arms,  with  the  names  of 
John,  James  and  Joseph  inscribed  upon  them.  There  w?as 
the  date  when  that  goodly  tree  was  transplanted  from  Scotch- 
Irish  to  American  soil ;  and  from  those  arms  there  was 
spread  out  on  every  side,  in  most  comely  and  copious  pro- 
portions, the  branches,  sub-branches,  shoots,  leaves,  buds, 
and  golden  fruit.  Three  hundred  names  had  been  counted 
on  the  tree  by  some  of  the  younger  arithmeticians,  who  had 
noted  that  spaces  were  left  for  others  not  yet  authentically 
collated.  Not  the  tenderest  bud  of  promise  in  the  "  original 
brother "  James  branch  of  the  tree  but  could  be  found 
there;  the  only  wish  was  that  the  John  and  Joseph 
branches  had  as  complete  a  registry.  But  one  representa- 
tive from  that  side  of  the  tree  was  present,'  Mrs.  Eliza 
Williams,  of  Philadelphia.  The  speaker  made  brief  refer- 
ence to  the  historical  events  of  the  times  in  which  the  ge- 


22  THE  DIAMOND   V/ ED  DING. 

nealogical  tree  was  planted,  and  the  later  ones  belonging  to 
the  appearance  of  those  offshoots  whose  diamond  anniver- 
sary we  were  eel ebra ting. 

Many  affecting  and  amusing  incidents  were  related  in  the 
early  history — civil,  social,  and  religious — of  Augusta  and 
Knoxboro ;  interesting  not  only  to  the  family  circle  here  as- 
sembled, but  to  the  goodly  company  of  neighbors,  towns- 
folk, and  citizens  of  adjacent  communities  who  were 
present  as  welcome  guests. 

Never  was  the  good  old  song  "  John  Anderson,  my  Jo," 
more  appropriate  than  in  response  to  this  address,  and  we 
are  sure  that  Burns  himself  would  have  said  that  it  was 
exquisitely  rendered. 

The  next  announcement  was  "  The  generation  of  the  chil- 
dren, and  their  congratulations  will  be  represented  by  brother 
Henry." 

Advancing  and  taking  his  father  and  mother  each  by  the 
hand,  he  said : — 

THE  CHILDREN  AND  THEIR  CONGRATULATIONS. 
BY    HENRY   M.    KNOX. 

BELOVED  PAREISTS  : — It  has  been  arranged  that  my  voice 
and  hands  should  bring  you  the  greetings  and  congratulations 
of  your  children  on  this  happy  day.  It  is  the  greater  pleasure 
from  the  fact  that  the  occasion  of  the  Golden  Wedding  was 
denied  both  me  and  mine.  Though  meeting  now  ten  years 
later,  you  have  the  great  gratification  of  seeing  together  the 
faces  of  all  your  living  children,  nine  in  number,  and  also  those 
of  our  wives  and  husbands,  adding  eight  more  to  the  gene- 
ration of  the  children.  One  of  our  number  since  that  bright 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  v3 

Golden  Wedding  day  lias  gone  to  that  land  where  there  are 
no  partings.  Whose  loss  among  us  could  be  felt  so  much  as 
hers,  as  who  of  us  was  so  well  fitted  to  enjoy  so  rare  an  oc- 
casion as  this  !  "  But  the  Master  has  come  into  the  garden 
and  though  the  fairest  of  all  the  lilies  be  His  choice,  who  of 
us  shall  say,  '  Thou  shalt  not  take  it?" 

One  we  have  welcomed  into  our  circle,  and  need  not  say 
to  you  that  in  all  these  rejoicings  her  heart  beats  with  the 
children's  hearts. 

We  come  as  preachers,  lawyers,  merchants,  bankers,  offi- 
cers of  the  law,  and  (what  is  as  great)  keepers  of  the  law, 
and  outside  our  chosen  spheres,  teachers  in  various  grades, 
and  builders  and  bolsterers  of  whatever  we  deem  to  be  good 
in  Church  and  State.  We  have  no  doctors  among  us,  as  in 
the  old  family  mansion  we  have  seldom  seen  them  except 
as  honored  guests,  and  we  hope  to  be  able  with  you  to  owe 
them  nothing  but  continued  honor  arid  good-will. 

In  all  our  professions  and  callings  we  find  nothing  in 
which  we  take  more  pride  ourselves  than  in  being  your 
children.  Whatever  there  is  of  good  in  us,  we  trace  to  the 
quiet,  genial  influences  of  our  early  home.  And  it  is  not 
now  the  rules  and  theories  of  your  teaching  which  we  re- 
member (for  the  rules  were  few  and  simple,  and  the  theories 
you  may  yourselves  be  unable  to  define),  but  the  example 
set  before  us  in  your  daily  lives.  No  method  of  teaching 
children  has  been  discovered  so  potent  as  that  which  appeals 
to  the  eye  of  the  young,  and  this  object-teaching  is  that 
which  even  now  in  all  our  homes,  pictures  your  forms  as  they 
daily  appeared  to  us  in  all  our  early  lives,  as  industrious, 
temperate,  frugal,  just,  and  law  abiding, — as  drawing  all 


24  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

your  maxims  from  the  family  Bible,  and  by  family  worship 
and  Sabbath  observance  exalting  the  Scriptures  ever  as  the 
very  basis  and  corner-stone  of  your  household. 

Some  of  us  have  confessed  to  each  other  in  view  of  these 
"  Diamond  Wedding  days,"  that  thoughts  of  sadness  would 
seem  more  fittingly  predominant,  as  we  must  be  continually 
reminded  that  such  another  family  occasion  can  hardly 
be  again  looked  for;  but  having  again  seen  your  faces, 
bright  and  radiant  with  intelligence  and  keen  appreciation, 
and  having  marked  your  elastic  steps,  we  have  courage  yet 
further  to  postpone  the  time  when  even  this  shall  be  impos- 
sible,— or  even  if  reluctantly  granting  to  ourselves  that  such 
another  week  may  not  again  occur,  sharing  in  your  abiding 
and  inspiring  faith,  we  may  enjoy  the  present  without  an 
alloy  of  pain,  and  look  in  the  face  of  the  future  without  fore- 
bodings, since  we  assure  ourselves  by  your  Christian  assur- 
ance that  the  brightness  of  these  gatherings,  which  are  but 
for  the  moment,  shall  be  followed  by  the  brightness  of  the 
celestial  gathering.  There,  let  us  hope  and  pray,  the  un- 
divided and  indivisible  family  will  meet  in  the  Father's 
House,  to  go  no  more  out  forever. 

We  congratulate  you,  then,  dear  parents,  upon  the  united 
presence  of  your  children  here  to-day, — upon  their  undivid- 
ed and  undying  affection, — upon  the  esteem  and  honor  in 
which  you  have  made  it  impossible  for  us  not  to  hold  you, 
— and  for  the  successful  impression  of  those  virtues  which 
you  hold  in  highest  esteem  upon  the  generation  of  the  chil- 
dren. 

We  congratulate  you  upon  the  fact  that  your  closing  days 
are  to  be  spent  in  the  house  that  has  sheltered  you  through 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  25 

almost  all  your  married  life,  in  which  all  your  ten  children 
(save  one)  were  born,  and  of  which  the  remarkable  words 
spoken  at  the  Golden  Wedding  are  still  true, — "  There  have 
been  many  happy  meetings  and  greetings  in  the  old  home- 
stead, many  songs  of  praise  and  voices  of  prayer  uplifted, 
~but  never  yet,  during  these  fifty  (now  sixty}  years,  a  death 
or  funeral  of  any  child  or  relative  !  "*  And  brother  Will, 
in  this  connection  but  quoted  the  thought  of  your  hearts  as 
well  as  our  own,  when  he  added,  "  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord, 
not  unto  us,  but  unto  Thy  name  give  praise  for  Thy  mercy, 
and  for  Thy  truth's  sake."  And  doubtless  the  prophet  had 
as  well  in  mind  the  reward  of  the  righteous  in  this  world  as 
their  blessedness  beyond,  when  he  said,  "  They  shall  not 
build,  and  another  inhabit ;  they  shall  not  plant,  and  another 
eat :  for  as  the  days  of  a  tree  are  the  days  of  my  people ; 
and  mine  elect  shall  long  enjoy  the  work  of  their  hands." 

We  congratulate  you  upon  the  continued  esteem  and 
good-will  of  your  neighbors  and  friends.  Many  of  these, — 
your  brothers  and  sisters  after  the  flesh, — the  pastor  of  your 
love  and  reverence  for  many  years, — those  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  you  in  business  and  social  ties, — those  with 
whom  you  took  sweet  counsel,  and  walked  unto  the  house 
of  God  in  company, — are  not  here  to-day,  and  will  mingle 
no  more  in  these  fleeting  scenes  of  earth ;  but  many  yet  re- 
main, and  show  by  their  presence  and  by  their  friendly 
messages,  that  you  are  surrounded  by  a  circle,  devoted  and 
loving,  who  hold  you  in  perpetual  honor,  and  whose  fidelity 
may  be  relied  upon  as  a  boon  and  blessing  in  your  declin- 
ing years. 

*  Nor,  it  might  have  been  added,  of  any  person. 


26  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

That  you  should  have  so  lived  in  one  community  for  over 
a  half  century  as  to  preserve  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
this  large  circle  of  friends, — that  we,  as  children,  visiting  as 
occasion  offers,  this  hoine  of  our  childhood,  and  looking  in 
the  faces  of  those  who  have  been  witnesses  of  your  daily 
lives,  should  read,  not  of  jealous  or  distrustful  thoughts,  but 
of  kindly  interest  and  affectionate  esteem, — this  we  count  as 
a  blessing  vouchsafed  us  by  a  good  Providence,  not  only  as 
one  of  our  greatest  comforts,  but  a  solace  of  your  declining 
_years.  Thanks  to  them,  one  and  all,  for  their  every  deed, 
and  look,  and  thought  of  kindness.  The  children's  bene- 
diction goes  out  to  them  ever,  with  your  prayers. 

"We  congratulate  you  that  you  may  see  so  much  of  your 
completed  work.  Not  to  many  is  it  given  with  unclouded  rea- 
son and  unstinted  powers  to  see  so  plainly  the  fruits  of  their 
labors.  And  though  much  of  your  influence  is  yet  to  ripen, 
and  unfold,  and  re-sow  itself  in  many  and  unexpected  fields, 
your  eyes  are  gladdened  by  the  sight  of  many  cherished 
schemes  accomplished.  Interests  educational,  political,  re- 
ligious, sacred  to  you,  to  which  you  have  put  your  hands 
and  given  your  voice,  have  prospered.  And  now  that  you 
are  laying  them  down,  your  children  grown  to  maturity  and 
the  vigor  of  manhood  and  womanhood,  are  caring  for  and 
furthering  them,  loving  to  think  that  you,  in  needed  and 
well-earned  repose,  may  be  gladdened  by  the  sight.  And 
we,  too,  are  reminded  by  the  laughing  voices  and  tramping 
feet  of  other  generations  of  your  descendants  that  those  will 
not  be  wanting  to  watch  over  and  perpetuate  your  work. 

Let  your  hearts  be  assured  by  the  many  things  accom- 
plished that  the  world  has  been  bettered  by  your  lives. 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDIXG.  27 

May  the  blissful  repose  which  sleeps  upon  this  peaceful 
valley  and  these  beautiful  hills  for  many  days  yet  be  yours, 
and  when  your  day  and  hour  may  come  to  leave  this 
earthly  home,  may  a  glory  surpassing  that  which  the  linger- 
ing rays  of  sunlight  impart  to  these  autumn-tinted  slopes 
light  you  to  the  "  Saints'  Everlasting  Kest." 

At  the  Golden  Wedding  the  youngest  grandchild  received 
the  sacred  rite  of  Christian  baptism,  giving  honor  to  the 
rite  as  an  institution  of  the  family  as  well  as  an  ordinance 
of  the  church.  The  same  parents  had  the  pleasure  again  of 
presenting  the  youngest  grandchild  for  the  same  sacred  ordi- 
nance. 

The  rite  was  administered  by  the  two  sons — the  Rev. 
"William  E.  Knox  offering  the  introductory  prayer  and  ad- 
ministering the  sign  and  seal  to 

" HELEN  THEODOSIA, — thou  gift  of  God" 

and  the  father,  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Knox,  offering  the  con- 
cluding prayer.  The  dear  little  child  had  been  sick,  and 
only  by  abundant  care  had  been  able  to  brave  the  exposure, 
but  has  since  shown  abundant  vigor  and  health,  as  if  she 
caught  life  and  buoyancy  from  the  occasion. 

"  The  generation  of  the  grandchildren  and  their  congratu- 
lations will  now  be  represented  by  one  of  their  number,  one 
of  two  who  have  completed  their  college  course." 


28  THE   DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

THE  GRANDCHILDREN  AND  THEIR  CONGRATULATIONS. 
BY   BENJAMIN   KHODE8. 

MY  DEAR  GBANDPAKENTS  : — It  is  ray  privilege,  on  behalf 
of  jour  grandchildren,  to  offer  our  congratulations  on  this  six- 
tieth anniversary  of  your  marriage.  We  congratulate  you  on 
your  long  and  happy  lives,  so  long  and  so  full  of  happiness 
as  fall  to  the  lot  of  few  in  this  world.  We  congratulate  you 
on  the  continued,  increasing,  and  well-merited  prosperity 
which  has  always  attended  you.  We  congratulate  you  on 
your  numerous  family  of  children,  grandchildren,  and  great- 
grandchildren, which  have  been  born  an  honor  and  a  bless- 
ing to  you.  Above  all,  we  congratulate  you  on  the  good 
name  and  Christian  influence  left  behind  in  your  path 
through  life. 

That  it  is  a  pleasure  to  us  to  meet  with  you  to-day,  it  is 
needless  to  say.  Many  are  the  visits  we  have  made  to 
the  good  old  homestead,  and  as  many  are  the  pleasant 
recollections  connected  with  it,  now  vividly  recalled.  Noth- 
ing but  kindness  has  ever  met  us  here.  The  good  people  of 
the  town,  better  known  to  our  parents  than  ourselves,  have 
always  received  us  with  cordiality,  and  many  are  the  friends 
we  are  glad  to  count  among  them.  There  is  scarcely  a 
spot  in  all  the  surrounding  country  but  has  some  association 
connected  with  it  dear  to  some  of  us.  The  homestead  itself 
and  the  "  other  house,"  each  with  its  stock  of  goodies ;  the 
store ;  the  barns  and  horses  ;  the  orchards  and  gardens ;  the 
fields  and  woods,  with  romantic  rambles  ;  the  grand  old  hills 
with  long  rides  in  summer  and  long  slides  in  winter ;  the 
brooks,  with  hunting  and  fishing ;  the  falls,  with  picnic 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  29 

memories,  the  "  rocky  lot"  and  the  "  caves,"  wonders  of  our 
youth, — all  have  helped  to  make  this  the  jolliest  of  all  places 
to  us. 

"We  note  a  few  changes  in  the  quiet  village  during  the 
ten  years  since  our  celebration  of  the  Golden  Wedding  day. 
An  air  of  prosperity  marks  all  its  surroundings.  Two 
beautiful  new  churches,  of  which  any  village  might  be  proud, 
have  been  erected,  and  their  spires  point  out  to  all  the 
country  round,  the  hitherto  almost  invisible  hamlet.  Two 
railroads,  one  on  either  side,  make  connection  with  the  rest 
of  the  world  not  quite  as  difficult,  at  least  when  the  snow  is 
not  too  plentiful. 

But  in  our  own  ranks,  as  grandchildren,  we  note  greater 
changes  still.  Ten  years  ago  we  numbered  twenty-one,  now 
we  can  count  twenty-five,  all  of  whom  are  here  except  the 
oldest  and  the  next  to  the  youngest.  At  that  time,  but  one 
had  attained  to  manhood  ;  now,  no  less  than  twelve  have 
reached  their  majority.  Four  of  our  number  have  been 
married  and  are  the  fond  parents  of  four  of  your  great-grand- 
children, some  of  whom  are  here  to  speak  for  themselves. 
Several  are  successfully  engaged  in  business  or  professional 
life.  The  oldest  grandson — the  oldest  son  of  your  oldest 
son — remains  at  the  homestead,  preserving  the  family  name 
and  position,  and  from  his  reputation  in  his  family,  church, 
and  community,  bids  fair  to  do  so  with  honor.  One  is  at 
the  head  of  a  firm  which  has  the  name  of  being  the  liveliest 
team  of  insurance  brokers  in  the  metropolis.  An  officer  ot 
the  crack  regiment  of  the  State,  the  proud  head  of  a  family, 
and  the  handsomest  of  the  grandsons,  we  gladly  and  unex- 
pectedly welcomed  him  among  us  at  the  last  moment.  Two 


30  THE   DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

have  completed  their  course  at  the  college  in  which  you,  sir, 
have  for  many  years  held  a  responsible  position,  One  is  a 
member  of  the  bar  of  the  city  of  TJtica,  has  already  entered 
the  political  arena,  and  is  known  as  a  rising  orator  through- 
out the  country.  Two  more  have  nearly  finished  their 
course  in  college,  another  is  almost  ready  to  enter,  while  an 
indefinite  number  of  others  in  preparation  bid  fair  to  keep 
a  representative  in  the  institution  as  long  as  its  venerable 
walls  shall  stand.  Of  the  granddaughters,  two  have  house- 
holds of  their  own,  miniatures  of  those  of  older  generations  ; 
and  their  highest  aim  is  to  bring  up  their  children  in  the 
ways  in  which  themselves  and  their  parents  were  taught  to 
walk.  They  are  followed  in  age  by  a  bevy  of  young  ladies 
in  the  bloom  of  youth  and  beauty,  unsurpassed  in  grace 
and  loveliness,  the  flowers  of  their  respective  families, 
and,  I  doubt  not,  the  belles  of  their  respective  communities. 
The  queen  of  babies  represents  the  younger  ones,  while 
the  youngest  of  all  has  just  received  the  rite  of  baptism. 

Two  of  the  grandchildren  have  been  named  for  you,  dear 
grandmother,  while  no  less  than  six,  sir,  have  borne  or  bear 
your  honored  name.  One  of  them,  the  oldest  of  our  num- 
ber, was  our  brave  representative  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  late  war.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  117th  1ST.  Y. 
Volunteers,  and  assisted  in  the  defence  of  Washington  at  the 
time  of  the  Gettysburg  raid.  Transferred  to  Charleston,  he 
took  part  in  the  active  campaign  before  that  city,  and  while 
there  received  the  furlough  which  permitted  him  to  be  with 
us  at  the  "Golden  Wedding."  Soon  after  he  was  again 
ordered  North,  stationed  in  the  trenches  at  the  siege  of 
Petersburg,  and  lay  under  almost  continuous  fire  for  weeks. 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  31 

During  the  active  campaign  preceding  the  fall  of  Rich- 
mond, his  regiment  was  almost  constantly  engaged.  He 
himself  had,  for  faithful  performance  of  duties  and  gallant 
conduct,  received  one  promotion  after  another,  until  he  was 
now  in  command  of  his  company.  Called  upon  to  make  an 
attack  on  a  fortress  of  the  enemy  at  Chapin's  Farm,  he  was 
leading  the  charge  at  the  head  of  his  company  when  he 
was  wounded  by  a  ball  from  a  rebel  rifle.  He  fell,  but 
was  struck  a  second  time  before  he  could  be  borne  from 
the  field,  and  survived  but  a  few  hours.  A  brave  sol- 
dier, a  faithful  officer,  a  valued  friend,  a  true  gentleman, 
an  earnest  Christian,  his  death  was  a  loss  to  his  country, 
his  comrades,  and  his  friends.  Well  beloved  by  all  of  us, 
best  loved  by  those  who  knew  him  best,  we  rniss  him 
from  our  circle,  but  know  from  his  life  that  the  loss  is 
only  ours — not  his. 

And  now,  dear  Grandparents,  let  me,  on  behalf  of  my 
cousins,  again  congratulate  you  on  having  so  very  happily 
completed  sixty  years  of  your  married  life.  Rare  as  is  this 
occasion,  it  is  as  rare  to  find  lives  spent  so  wholly  for  good 
as  yours  have  been.  That  your  remaining  years  may  still 
be  many,  and  that  they  may  be  as  happy  as  those  already 
passed,  as  happy  as  you  truly  merit,  is  the  sincere  desire, 
the  earnest  hope  of  all  your  grandchildren. 

"  The  generation  of  the  great-grandchildren,  and  the 
generations  of  the  future  posterity  will  now  be  represented 
by  "  Brother  Charles  "  (Johnnie  Fabre  :  "  When  will  it  be 
out  ?  ")  He  responded  in  some  such  words  as  these  : 


32  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

THE    GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN    AND    THE    FUTURE 
POSTERITY. 

BY  KEV.  CHARLES  E.  KNOX. 

As  one  of  the  great-grandchildren  is  already  asking  when 
the  meeting  will  be  out,  my  address  can  hardly  take  up  all 
the  heads  of  the  future  posterity.  Perhaps  I  may  better 
confine  iny  discourse  to  four  heads  represented  by  the  four 
great-grandchildren,  two  of  whom  have  come  to  greet  their 
great-grandparents.  They  have  not  as  yet  much  to  say  for 
themselves,  but  they  certainly  represent  a  large  company 
yet  in  the  future. 

It  is  interesting  and  impressive  to  see  the  large  families  of 
some  communities  and  to  trace  them  back  to  their  origin  in 
a  single  pair.  In  the  town  in  which  I  live,  there  is  a  mul- 
titude of  Dodds,  and  they  go  back  to  their  origin  in  Rev. 
John  Dodd,  of  England,  who  had  eighteen  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, and  was  the  father  of  twelve  sons  arid  daughters.  And 
if  we  could  look  on  to  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the 
original  wedding,  to  be  held  in  1913,  we  should  see  no  doubt 
quite  a  multitude  looking  back  to  you  or  their  ancestors. 

Such  a  prospect  certainly  ought  to  be  considered  a  source 
of  real  happiness.  A  numerous  and  virtuous  posterity  is  one 
of  the  best  blessings  of  heaven,  as  well  as  one  of  the  greatest 
gifts  to  the  race.  Of  course  7  have  a  very  strong  belief  in  the 
blessing  of  a  numerous  family,  for  if  you  had  stopped  with 
only  eight  children,  as  I  am  the  ninth,  I  should  not  be  here 
to  give  thanks. 

The  transmission  of  Christian  principles,  too,  by  lines  of 
natural  descent,  is  a  grand  doctrine  of  Scripture.  Christian 


THE   DIAMOND   WEDDIXG.  88 

character  is  multiplied  and  extended  by  the  natural  increase 
of  Christian  posterity.  I  had  the  pleasure  a  few  weeks  ago 
of  looking  over  two  large  volumes  of  the  Strong  genealogy 
prepared  by  our  old  family  friend.  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  W* 
Dwiglit,  of  Clinton,  a  very  remarkable  record.  That  record 
shows  that  about  twenty  thousand  persons  have'  descended 
from  the  original  pair  of  Strongs,  in  about  two  hundred 
years,  and  I  am  told  that  out  of  the  twenty  thousand,  about 
fifteen  thousand  have  been  and  are  Christians.  This  is  a 
beautiful  illustration  of  the  large  results  which  flow  from 
fulfilling  the  divine  design,  and  of  the  benefits  of  that 
delightful  covenant  which  God  makes  with  His  children  and 
their  children  after  them,  generation  after  generation,  in 
response  to  which  my  own  dear  child  has  received  the  bap- 
tismal rite  to-day.  Such  results  are  to  be  confidently 
expected ;  and  may  be  confidently  anticipated  by  you,  as 
one  of  the  joys  of  this  happy  occasion. 

I  count  it,  therefore,  dear  parents,  your  great  happiness, 
that  you  may  look  forward  to  a  goodly  posterity  in  the 
future.  After  you  shall  have  gone,  after  all  of  us  children 
shall  be  gone,  there  will  be  a  family  to  represent  you.  It  is 
not  a  mere  possibility,  nor  a  mere  probability.  It  is  a  prob- 
ability which  amounts  to  a  certainty,  if  your  children  and 
children's  children  pursue  the  principles  which  you  have 
taught  them.  Hereditary  influences  are  among  the  strongest 
and  most  certain  forces,  morally  as  well  as  physically.  The 
divine  design  is  to  confirm  family  instruction  from  father  to 
son,  the  faith  of  godly  parents  in  their  children.  You  have 
given  us  the  principles  of  good  health,  too,  as  a  foundation 
on  which  to  build.  You  have  taught  us  moderation,  sobri- 


34  THE  DIAAJOND   WEDDING. 

ety,  and  simplicity  in  physical  habits ;  and  you  may  there- 
fore be  sure  that  if  these  things  are  perpetuated,  there  will  be 
in  the  future  a  large  number  to  represent  you  and  recount 
the  virtues  to  which  they  will  owe  their  power. 

Who  can  tell  the  wonderful  changes  which  will  take 
place  before  the  days  of  the  centennial  anniversary.  During 
those  great  days  when  the  daily  balloon  will  leave  Knox- 
boro  for  Straban ;  or  a  procession  of  balloons  go  from  the  one 
place  to  the  other  to  convey  the  guests,  what  a  multitude  of 
Knoxes  will  be  here  at  the  old  homestead,  or  at  the  ances- 
tral home  in  the  fatherland  ! 

And  beyond  all  this  is  a  great  happiness.  What  a  high 
pleasure,  when  the  great  multitude  shall  be  gathered  from 
all  the  families  of  man  to  find  a  great  re-union  of  your  own 
earthly  kindred !  You  can  look  forward  to  that  time  !  We 
thank  God,  that  it  does  not  with  you  mar  the  joyousness  of 
this  occasion  to  allude  even  to  the  river  of  death  ;  for  you 
have  that  buoyancy  and  hopefulness  and  tranquility  which 
belong  to  Christian  life.  You  have  hope  and  buoyancy 
too  strong,  therefore,  to  count  such  an  allusion  anything  else 
than  appropriate  and  acceptable  on  such  a  day  as  this.  This 
spirit  you  bequeath  also  as  a  legacy  to  your  great-grand- 
children and  the  posterity  to  come. 

On  their  behalf,  therefore,  I  thank  you  for  the  principles 
which  during  your  life  you  have  treasured  up  for  them 
and  which  through  us  to-day  you  transmit  from  generation 
to  generation. 

"  Home,  Sweet  Home/'  was  then  rendered  in  solo  voice, 
with  variations  in  the  piano  accompaniment,  the  assembly 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  35 

and  the  organ  joining  in  the  doxology  which  followed,  after 
which  the  Rev.  P.  Barbour,  pastor  of  the  Augusta  Church, 
pronounced  the  benediction. 

Greetings  and  congratulations  from  the  people  came  next ; 
and  old  friends  were  pressed  into  the  Hall  for  the  dining 
hour,  one  of  whom  from  the  Curtiss  branch  of  the  kindred, 
we  were  glad  to  keep  for  a  day  or  two.  Calls  at  the  old  house 
renewed  the  congratulations.  Eighty-two  persons  sat  down 
to  the  family  dinner,  among  them  two  who  were  present  at 
the  first  wedding,  Mr.  John  Thompson,  and  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Gaylord  (Kendall),  who  as  a  little  child  accompanied  her 
father,  the  Rev.  David  Kendall,  ths  clergyman  on  that 
occasion.  A  glad  hour  it  was  with  its  additional  infusion 
of  relatives  whom  some  of  us  had  not  recently  seen,  and  of 
town-acquaintance  and  out-of-town  friends  whom  we  seldom 
have  seen  together.  The  little  people  took  first  of  all  to 
the  solids  and  goodies,  and  lastly  to  the  "  Golden  Wedding 
Riddles,  with  a  few  more  for  the  Diamond  Wedding,"  with 
which  the  dessert-dishes  were  garnished,  the  issue  that  very 
day  of  the  Knoxboro  press.  A  whole  load  of  these  small 
folk  shortly  after  had  a  grand  pumpkin  ride  in  a  cart ; 
bringing  home  from  the  field  an  overflowing  supply  of  that 
New  England  vegetable,  and  appearing  in  startling  array, 
each  one  pumpkin  in  hand,  with  staccato  inquiries  for  knives 
with  which  to  carve  Jack-o-lanterns  for  the  evening,  which 
indeed  ghastly  and  monstrous  illuminations  duly  appeared. 

The  best  of  all  good  times  must  begin  to  break  up  all  too 
soon ;  and  so  imperative  duties  took  away  our  Washington 
brother  almost  from  the  dining  table.  Amidst  reluct- 
ant farewells,  he  took  his  departure  for  Utica.  Games, 


36  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

however,  went  on  for  the  entertainment  of  the,  children  : 
"  Chickens,"  if  that  is  it ;  "  Going  to  Jerusalem,"  "  Acting 
Rhyme,"  " Ish-Ash-Osh,"  "Ship  come  in,"  and  all  the 
catalogue  up  to  a  court  scene,  at  which  Justice  Rhodes 
presided.  Attorney  John  prosecuted  the  case,  and  Attorney 
Edward  defended  the  victim.  Benjamin,  the  alleged 
criminal  on  this  unhappy  occasion,  was  charged  with  auda- 
cious general  slander  of  the  whole  consinship  in  his  address 
in  church,  by  boldly  pointing  out,  as  he  enviously  stated 
and  alleged,  the  superior  beauty  of  one  of  the  grandsons. 
The  testimony  and  the  argument  were  brief  and  to  the 
point.  The  summing  up  was  strictly  with  judicial  terseness 
and  acumen.  The  decision  was  briefly,,  positively,  and  em- 
phatically against  the  defendant,  "  not  at  all  on  the  indict- 
ment, but  from  pure  sense  of  justice,  in  that  he,  the  above 
victim,  had  vilely  passed  by  the  ladies  in  making  the  com- 
parison." The  sentence  and  the  criminal  were  instantly 
executed,  and  thus  greatly  contributed  to  the  festivities  of  the 
Wedding.  Two  of  the  comrades-in-arms  of  the  oldest 
grandson,  who  fell  for  his  country,  responded  to  an  invita- 
tion to  be  present  that  evening,  and  assisted  to  correct  and 
record  the  events  of  our  brave  boy's  life.  The  devotions  of 
the  evening  were  conducted  in  the  middle  room  of  the  old 
house,  brother  Will  conducting  them. 

The  next  morning  the  niece  from  Elmira  must  needs  re- 
turn to  college  to  high  instruction  in  Mathematics  and  His- 
tory, but  a  load  of  cousins  gave  her  a  cordial  dismissal,  by 
accompanying  her  to  the  eastern  railroad  station.  Later  in 
the  forenoon  the  family  gathered  to  hear  a  sketch  of  the 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  37 

life  of  the  oldest  grandson,  present  at  the  Golden  "Wedding. 
He  soon  afterward  laid  down  his  life  for  his  country.  The . 
sketch  of  his  modest  worth,  and  of  the  manly  develop- 
ment of  his  character  in  the  army,  accompanied  with  maps 
of  the  encampments  and  campaigns  with  which  he  was 
connected,  was  read  by  brother  Charles  in  part  that  day, 
and  was  finished  the  following  day,  and  was  considered  a 
real  contribution  to  the  family  history.  The  sketch  is  added 
in  full  at  the  end  of  this  book.  Poor  Carrie  about  this 
time,  or  a  little  later,  fell  from  the  swing  and  broke  her 
arm.  Forthwith  her  chamber  became  the  centre  of  sym- 
pathy, and  feet  scattered  in  every  direction  for  the  doctor. 
While  the  dinner  was  in  progress,  the  doctor  came  to  set 
the  bone,  and  after  half  an  hour's  pitiful  exclamations  for 
the  sufferer,  the  glad  word  went  around,  "The  bone  is  set 
and  the  worst  is  over."  The  boy-cousins,  who  had  an 
excursion  to  "the  cave  "  and  to  "the  glen"  later  in  the 
day,  and  who  brought  home  trout,  "  caught  in  Rob's  hands  !" 
gave  her  a  trout  supper  at  night.  During  this  dinner  it 
was  that  merriment  was  created  by  the  reading  of  old 
letters  written  by  persons  then  present :  one  exhibiting  the 
mature  judgment  of  afresh  alumnus  in  respect  to  college 
affairs  in  1839,  another  showing  the  state  of  a  mother's  mind 
when  her  first-born,  "  Johnnie,"  now  alumnus,  A.M.,  attor- 
ney-at-law,  etc.,  could  sit  up  on  the  floor  and  had  a  tooth  or 
two,  and  another,  a  description  of  a  western  journey,  by  a 
fourteen-year-old  son,  made  up  of  a  table  of  miles,  and  hours, 
and  names,  in  truly  exact  style.  Sometime  during  that 
day  it  was  that  those  two  small  colts,  Freddie  and  Johnnie, 
gave  Bertie  a  cart-ride  full  speed  down  the  east  hill  over  the 


38  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

stones,  "almost  to  the  bridges,  and  upset  him  three  times  !" 
The  new  great-grandson  received  attention  too,  and 
disclosed  to  us  that  his  chief  end  in  life  was  to  have  and 
to  hold — a  watch. 

The  Oswego  brother  and  sister  must  needs  go  on  this 
afternoon,  and,  after  farewells,  were  taken  by  the  Vernon 
brother  back  over  the  western  hills  to  their  train.  So,  too, 
the  New  York  grandson  and  his  wife,  and  the  Utica  lawyer 
and  Troy  merchant  must  hasten  to  Oneida  for  the  seven 
o'clock  evening  train.  Broken-arm  Carrie  was  then  estab- 
lished, and  held  levee  in  the  west  parlor.  Meantime  the 
preparations  for  the  grand  concert  were  approaching  com- 
pletion. The  concert  itself,  in  the  evening,  in  the  character 
of  the  music,  in  the  audience,  in  the  management,  and  in  the 
pecuniary  result,  was  esteemed  a  complete  success — thanks  to 
that  energetic  grandson,  who  guided  this  and  so  many  other 
good  things  to  their  efficient  and  satisfactory  result.  The 
receipts  of  the  evening  were  over  one  hundred  and  thirty 
dollars,  and  yielded  a  solid  profit  for  the  organ  fund.  The 
programme  was  varied  and  attractive,  as  was  evident  by 
the  cordial  encores.  Without  the  encores,  it  was  as  follows  : 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 


39 


ORGAN    EXHIBITION    AND    CONCERT, 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  KNOXBORO,  N.  Y., 
WEDNESDAY  EVENING,  OCTOBER  STH,  1873. 


PROGRAMME. 


i.  ANTHEM, 


PART  FIRST. 

The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd. 
CHOIR. 


2.  Marche  triomphale  et  solenne,  _______ 

Organ. — Prof.  J.  SIEBOTH. 

3.  PENSEE   FUGITIF,        Piano  and  Violin,  -  ERNST. 

Mrs.  (JOHN  JAY)  KNOX  and  Mr.  GRUHNERT. 

4.  QUARTETTE,         -         Crossing  the  Grand  Sierras,     -        -        -    WORK. 

Miss  BEEBE,  Miss  SYKES,  Mr.  CARPENTER,  Mr.  GIBSON. 

5.  Remembrance  of   Olden    Times.     Concert    Variations  on   "  Mary 

of  Argyle"  _________ 

Organ.— Prof.  J.  SIEBOTH. 


-    MENDELSSOHN. 


6.  SOLO.        -        -        -        Greeting,       -        -        -        -      '- 
Mrs.  (HENRY  M.)  KNOX. 

PART    SECOND. 

7.  ANTHEM.  /  was  Glad.        - 

CHOIR. 

8.  ANDANTE.  -  Grazioso  and  Pastor ella,    - 

Organ. — Prof.  J.  SIEBOTH. 

9.  ANDANTE  AND  ALLEGRO.      Violin  Concerto,        -  MENDELSSOHN. 

Mrs.  (JOHN  JAY)  KNOX  and  Mr.  GRUHNERT. 

10.  Fantasia.  Brilliante  from  Themes  of  Midsummer-night,    -        -    MENDELSSOHN. 
Organ. — Prof.  J.  SIEBOTH. 


ii.  TRIO. 


Protect  us  Thro*  the  Coming  Night, 
Miss  BEEBE,  Miss  SYKES,  Mr.  GIBSON. 


-    CURSCHMAN. 


40  THE   DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

Music,  however,  lias  different  charms  for  different  com- 
positions. While  some  were  animated  and  excited,  others 
were  soothed  and  quieted.  Johnnie  Fabre,  Bertie  and  Fred. 
Knox  went  gradually  off  into  unconscious  composure,  were 
helped  to  stretch  at  full  length  on  the  front  cushions,  and 
excited  the  apprehensions  of  their  musical  friends  lest  they 
should  "  roll  "  at  a  measure  where  a  "  grand  crash  "  would 
not  properly  harmonize.  Old  acquaintances,  before  and 
after  the  concert,  came  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  old 
homestead  and  its  occupants.  On  this  day  also  the  second 
circular  letter,  variously  called  the  "  Grandchildren's  Cir- 
cular," the  "  Cousins'  Circular,"  or  the  "  Circular,  Jr.,"  was 
proposed,  and  the  next  month  took  its  regular  place  as  a 
family  institution. 

Thursday  was  a  brilliant  and  unclouded  October  day. 
The  Clinton  Quartette,  who  assisted  to  make  the  concert  a 
success,  took  breakfast  at  the  Hall,  and  joined  in  the  family 
devotional  hymn,  after  which,  with  the  Dresden  musician, 
they  took  their  departure  amid  thanks  for  their  good  ser- 
vices. At  nine  and  a  half  o'clock,  an  assembly  gathered  to 
listen  to  the  completion  of  the  sketch  of  yesterday.  Thanks 
were  especially  expressed  to  a  good  sister  for  her  genealogi- 
cal tree,  which  had  been  admired  again  and  again  for  its 
form  and  ingenious  representation,  and  its  additions  to  our 
historical  knowledge  of  the  family.  Additional  old-time 
letters  gave  spice  and  zest  to  the  following  half-hour. 
Notices  were  given  that  Mrs.  Jarley  would  exhibit  her 
celebrated  wax-works  on  that  evening  "in  this  edifice,"  that 
there  would  be  a  balloon  ascension  in  front  of  "  the  other 


THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING.  41 

house"  at  three  o'clock,  and  that  there  would  be  an  attempt 
to  photograph  the  building  and  the  company  afterwards. 
Dinner  over,  no  balloon  nor  other  attraction  could  keep 
three  cousins  from  the  streams  and  fish  ;  and  at  night  again 
they  reported  the  magnetic  power  of  Rob.  in  taking  trout, 
"just  in  his  hands!"  "right  in  his  hands,  sir!"  The 
balloon,  under  the  skill  of  the  Knoxboro  balloonist,  proved 
a  success,  sailing  high  and  far,  eastward,  in  the  direction  of 
Straban,  Ireland.  But  there  were  too  many  babies  and 
carriages  and  little,  restless  bodies,  and  too  many  postures 
on  the  grass  and  mound,  and  too  much  frolic,  too,  to  give  a 
photographic  success  even  on  that  resplendent  day.  With 
the  evening  came  a  procession  of  fiery-eyed,  brandy-nosed, 
fire-breath  ing  monsters — somewhat  pumpkin-1  leaded  — which 
alarmed  and  frightened  certainly  out  of  their  seven  senses  all 
the  inhabitants  of  Hall  and  houses,  until  they  were  informed 
that  they  were,  after  all,  human  persons  seeking  to  do  honor  to 
this  illustrious  occasion.  Mrs.  Jarley's  agent  appeared  in  due 
season — so  soon  as  her  carpenters  could  get  the  stage  and 
curtain  and  fixings  ready — and  at  length  Mrs.  Jarley  her- 
self, who  exhibited  her  "  figgers "  in  an  entirely  original 
manner.  Mrs.  Jarley  and  Mr.  Slum  especially  were  the 
amazement  and  admiration  of  the  family  and  of  the  outside 
friends  in  attendance,  w7ho  found  it  difficult  to  conceive  how 
these  two  leading  persons  could  do  what  they  did.  Many 
were  the  visits  during  the  day  to  Carrie's  room,  and  in- 
quiries in  respect  to  her  mending  arm. 

Friday  —  the   eleventh   birthday  of  one   of  the  grand- 
sons —  was     another     beautiful     day.        "  The    Parting 


43  THE  DIAMOND    WEDDING. 

Hymn "  of  the  Golden  Wedding  was  sung  at  family 
devotions  : 

"  The  golden  band  of  wedded  love, 

The  household  company, 
An  earnest  is  of  life  above, 
Of  heaven's  felicity," — 

with  the  announcement  that  "  it  is  to  be  sung  every 
day  so  long  as  any  company  remains  to  sing."  The 
•p&rt'mg-hand  was  then  given  to  "  Albany,"  with  regrets 
of  all  sorts  that  he  too  must  go.  Conversation  fol- 
lowed in  respect  to  a  book  to  preserve  some  reminis- 
cence of  these  happy  hours,  and  persons  were  appointed 
to  see  that  the  appropriate  thing  be  done.  Hearty  thanks, 
which'  could  not  be  expressed  in  words,  were  voted  to  the 
good  and  painstaking  brother  and  nephew,  architects, 
builders,  and  providers  for  us  all,  as  well  as  to  their  good  and 
hospitable  spouses,  and  to  the  superb  home-sister  for  her 
skill  and  guidance.  Cordial  thanks  were  also  expressed  to 
the  Philadelphia  cousin  for  her  acceptable  representation  of 
another  branch- of  the  original  American  family.  Letters  of 
congratulation  were  read  or  recognized.  After  dinner,  and 
"Delightful  Knoxboro,"  and  walks  in  the  orchard  and  gar- 
dens, so  many  of  the  ]STe\v  Jersey  family  as  could  be  packed 
into  one  carriage,  were  despatched  over  "  the  hill  "  to  Clin- 
ton. The  birth-day  boy,  however,  was  absent  at  the  time 
with  his  three  cousins  in  high  pursuit  of  fish,  even  unto  the 
Skenandoah,  and  returning  even  more  successful  than  before, 
Rob's  hands  proving  as  magnetic  or  magical  as  on  the  two 
days  preceding ;  nine  shy  trout  in  all,  caught  in  the  hands  ! 
The  Senior  in  college,  too,  departed  to  the  higher  walks  of 


THE   DIAMOND   WEDDING.  43 

letters.  Then  came  a  consultation  in  respect  to  "  The  Ger- 
man Theological  School,"  and  then  plans  for  a  "  second 
part "  of  the  festival  for  two  or  three  days  at  the  Vernon 
home.  A  brother  and  a  sister  went  thither  "  for  over  Sun- 
day," following  the  "  good-man ''  and  his  spouse  and 
"Armenia,"  who  had  already  led  the  way.  Other  com- 
panies, containing  in  all  a  good  variety  of  representation, 
transferred  the  cheer  to  that  mansion  for  a  half-week  more. 
The  church-meeting  of  Friday  evening  was  not  neglected 
by  those  who  still  remained,  reminded,  as  we  all  certainly 
were,  by  the  octogenarian  that  that  was  meeting-night. 

Even  on  Saturday,  when  the  full  week  was  completed,  a 
goodly  company  broke  their  fast  in  the  Hall,  re-read  again 
the  psalm,  "  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,"  with  which  the 
first  devotions  of  the  Plall  were  opened,  and  sung  again  the 
Parting  Hymn.  Rob,  indeed,  turning  from  fish  to  books, 
in  order  to  be  in  time  for  the  opening  term,  had  started 
before  the  breakfast  hour  to  catch  the  early  train  southward. 
The  Albany  family,  the  Washington  family,  the  Troy  family, 
two  Oswego  grandchildren,  the  New  Jersey  bishop  and  his 
oldest,  were  packed  then  into  the  two  large  wagons,  one  of 
which  so  groaned  beneath  the  load  that  the  tire  ran  off  on 
the  way  down  to  "  the  Falls.*'  There  was  a  shout,  when  on 
turning  a  curve,  Hob  was  espied  in  full  retreat  from  the 
station,  high -seated  in  a  lumber  wagon.  It  seems  that, 
both  in  coming  and  going  to  a  diamond  wedding,  he  es- 
teemed hay-rack  and  lumber  wagon  far  preferable  to  a  more 
elegant  conveyance — especially  after  missing  connection. 
However,  he  had  two  days'  visit  more  at  the  old  homestead, 


44  THE  DIAMOND   WEDDING. 

and  who  knows  how  many  fish  he  would  have  caught  if  the 
next  day  hadn't  been  Sunday!  Came  with  the  broken 
arm,  too — had  both  him  and  his  trout !  Comforted  by  her 
cousin  Kitty  and  cared  for  by  her  mother,  she  was  the  cen- 
tre of  kind  attentions,  while  the  St.  Paul  family  lingered 
for  a  fortnight  at  the  other  house,  and  waked  the  musical 
echoes  in  a  building  now  sacred  with  happy  associations 
with  all  that  makes  home  attractive  and  joyous. 

Thrice  happy  week !  sparkling,  serene,  arid  pure  as  dia- 
mond !  The  aspiration  of  the  Golden  Wedding  book  at  its 
close  :  "  O,  happy  days  of  a  golden  week  !  come  again  ! 
O,  golden  day  !  come  to  some  of  us,"  was  more  than  realized. 
Happier  hours,  a  longer  week,  full  of  golden  days,  had 
already  come  to  us  !  0,  for  another  ten  years  of  the  wedded 
life  in  the  old  homestead,  and  a  day  in  which  to  crown  the 
life  of  the  honored  pair  !  * 

*  Our  desire  expressed  in  these  last  words  was  not  to  be  gratified. 
Various  obstacles  deferred  the  completion  of  this  family-story  for  a 
year  and  a  half.  Just  while  the  proof  of  the  whole  was  in  our  hands, 
our  dear  mother  departed  from  us.  Her  sufferings  —  during  which 
she  could  best  express  her  Christian  trust  by  saying  that  she  seemed 
to  be  carried  in  her  Saviour's  arms — had  ceased.  In  the  dear  room, 
illumined  now  by  the  sweet  spiritual  expression  of  her  last  days,  as 
the  Sabbath  was  ushered  in  on  May  16,  1875,  she  fell  asleep,  gentle 
as  an  infant  begins  its  slumber — a  beautiful  end  to  a  long  and  useful 
life.  A  kind  Providence  unexpectedly  brought  us  all  home  during 
her  sickness  and  together  on  the  day  of  her  death.  Borne  by  her 
sons  and  sons-in-law,  we  laid  her  in  the  Sleeping-Place  on  May  18th, 
the  eighty-fourth  birth-day  of  her  husband.  "  Her  children  arise  up 
and  call  her  blessed  :  her  husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her." 


SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE 

OF 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  J.  KNOX  WILLIAMS, 

OLDEST    GRANDSON 

OF 

JOHN   J.  AND    SARAH    A.   KNOX, 

WHO 

FELL  IN  DEFENCE  OF  HIS  COUNTRY 

AT  THE 

BATTLE    OF     CHAPIN'S     FARM, 
SEPTEMBER  29-30,  1864. 


PREPARED   BY  THE 

REV.    CHARLES     E.    KNOX, 

AND 

READ    AT    THE    DIAMOND    WEDDING. 


A     S  KETC  H. 


AT  the  Golden  Wedding,  ten  years  ago,  one  of  the  grandchildren 
stood  with  us  somewhat  peculiar  and  conspicuous  in  our  wide  do- 
mestic circle.  He  was  the  oldest  grandchild,  and  his  age  just  divided 
in  equal  parts  the  fifty  years.  He  came  in  a  soldier's  blouse  from 
Folly  Island,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he  was  then  bombarding  and 
bombarded  by  the  rebels  of  that  hot-headed  town.  He  bore  the 
name  of  h's  grandfather,  and  we  fondly  hoped  might  hand  it  down 
to  others  after  him.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  twenty-eight  grand- 
children, and  was  the  only  one  of  the  twenty-one  grandchildren,  then 
living,  who  had  attained  his  majority,  and  who  was  legally  competent 
to  take  up  arms  for  his  country.  He  represented  to  us,  therefore,  at 
that  time,  the  promised  manhood  of  the  coining  generation.  The 
rough  campaigns  had  not  broken  him  down,  although  his  brief  fur- 
lough was  given  as  respite  to  his  health.  We  all  hoped  shortly  to  see 
him — the  cruel  war  over — settled  in  the  enjoyment  of  domestic  affec- 
tion, and  of  the  peaceful  pursuits  which  he  had  lifted  his  arm  to 
defend. 

It  would  not  be  agreeable  to  any  of  us  to  pretend,  in  this  sketch  of 
his  life,  that  he  possessed  remarkable  qualities  or  virtues.  He  had 
no  thought  of  claiming  them.  In  a  simple  and  manly  way  he  did 
his  duty  like  thousands  of  others,  and  grew  more  manly,  and,  as  we 
believe,  more  a  Christian  in  discharging  his  brave  service.  But  as 
his  career  as  a  soldier,  and  his  noble  death,  make  him  our  own 
domestic  patriot,  let  us  preserve  and  cherish  in  our  succeeding 
generations  an  outline  of  his  life.  With  such  a  picture  of  his  life,  we 
shall  see  in  him  the  representative  Ameiican  soldier  in  the  common 
ranks,  in  those  fierce  days  when  Union  triumphed  over  Secession,  and 
when  emancipation  dawned  like  a  sunrise  on  a  race  waiting  and 
watching. 

Let  us  put  his  military  life  into  the  foreground  as  the  chief  thing; 
and  afterwards  just  touch  the  domestic  events  cf  his  early  years,  in 
order  to  round  out  the  sketch. 

(47) 


48  A  SKETCH. 

HIS  MILITARY  LIFE. 

His  military  life  falls  naturally  into  six  parts  :  1.  The  Enlistment ; 
2.  The  Defence  of  Washington;  3.  Suffolk  and  the  Peninsula  Raid; 
4.  Folly  Island;  5.  City  Point  and  Petersburg;  and  6.  The  Last 
Battles. 

I.  THE  ENLISTMENT. 

Knox  Williams  had  been  bookkeeper  and  clerk  for  his  uncle  James 
in  "the  good  old  store"  a  little  over  a  year,  when  President  Lincoln's 
call  for  three  hundred  thousand  additional  men  on  July  1,  1862, 
rang  through  the  land.  Governor  Morgan's  proclamation  supporting 
the  call  came  the  next  day.  Three  days  later  a  circular  went  forth 
from  the  State  Adjutant-General's  Office  at  Albany,  directing  that 
every  senatorial  district  in  the  State  should  be  made  a  regimental 
district,  and  that  in  each  district  a  camp  for  a  new  regiment  of  vol- 
unteers should  be  established.  On  the  committee  to  raise  the  regi- 
ment in  this  district  were  such  men  as  Judge  W.  J.  Bacon  and 
Charles  Doolittle,  of  Utica ;  Benj.  N.  Huutington  and  Calvert  Coin- 
stock,  Esq.,  of  Rome;  0.  S.  Williams,  of  Clinton ;  D.  B.  Goodwin,  of 
Waterville;  and  David  T.  Jenkins,  of  Vernon.  One  year  before,  the 
panic  of  Bull  Run  had  sent  a  momentary  panic  through  the  land. 
Five  months  before,  the  North  had  been  elated  with  the  spectacle  of 
Floyd  and  Pillow  sneaking  in  a  scamper  and  fright  from  the  fill  of 
Fort  Donaldson  in  Tennessee,  at  which  time  Gen.  Grant  came  first 
into  prominent  notice  by  his  reply  to  Gen.  Buckner,  '•  No  teims  other 
than  unconditional  and  absolute  surrender  can  be  accepted.  I  propose 
to  move  immediately  upon  your  works."  Three  months  before,  both 
North  and  South  had  been  puzzled  by  the  two  days'  battle  at  Shiloh, 
in  southern  Tennessee,  where  one  day  the  Confederate  army  tri- 
umphed, when  the  next  day  the  Union  troops  were  triumphant ;  when 
the  Confederate  Sidney  Johnson  fell,  and  where  Grant  and  Buell 
checked,  if  they  did  not  rout,  Beauregard.  But,  for  three  long 
months,  McClellan  had  been  conducting  his  Peninsula  Campaign  in 
Virginia,  and  the  seige  of  Yorktown,  the  battles  of  Fair  Oaks, 
Games'  Mill,  and  Malvern  Hill  had  just  resulted  in  retreat  to  Harri- 
son's Landing,  on  the  James  River.  The  whole  country  was  now  alive, 
appealing  for  the  new  volunteers  300,000  strong.  The  Governor  of 
New  York  had  sent  a  circular  address  to  the  Supervisor  of  every 
town,  saying:  "The  Rebel  Capital  must  not  be  permitted  longer  to 
defy  the  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and 


A  SKETCH.  49 

degrade  it  in  the  estimation  of  the  nations  of  the  earth."  Public 
speakers  were  addressing  meetings  throughout  the  country.  Such 
meetings  were  held  at  the  Union  Church  of  Knoxboro,  and  addressed 
by  prominent  men.  Wrn.  R.  Pease  had  already  been  appointed  Col- 
onel of  the  regiment,  and  Camp  Huntington  had  been  established  at 
Rome,  between  Dominic  and  Liberty  streets,  on  the  western  skirt  of 
the  village,  as  the  rendezvous  of  the  Fourth  Oneida  regiment  of  volun- 
teers. 

There  was  much  talk  at  the  store  among  the  patriotic  boys, 
in  which  Knox  took  no  inconsiderable  part.  Who  first  made  the  pro- 
posal to  form  a  squad  for  enlistment,  we  do  not  know.  The  mem- 
bers of  Norman  Knox's  Bible  cla^s,  who  were  at  that  time  studying 
what  was  once  described  by  misprint,  as  "  A  War  with  St.  Paul,"* 
and  thus  fitting  themselves  for  military  service,  were  the  principal 
persons  ;  in  which  class  were  Kendall,  Lindsley,  Robbins,  Beach, 
Ennis,  West,  and  King ;  and  more  than  once  the  words,  "  I  will  go  if 
you  will,"  passed  from  one  to  the  other.  Knox  and  Stone,  we  believe, 
challenged  each  other.  The  two  went  to  see  Kendall,  who  was  then 
in  the  '•  other  store."  Beach  made  the  fourth.  Stone  withdrew  be- 
cause he  was  under  age.  As  the  good  parents  in  Vernon  became 
aware  of  the  rising  spirit  in  this  little  'boro,  they  watched  with  patri- 
otic solicitude  its  effect  on  their  only  child.  When  the  mother  went 
on  a  visit  to  Marcellus,  she  made  the  father  promise  that  he  would 
not  influence  Knox.  His  father  wrote  him  a  letter,  urging  him  not 
to  commit  himself  till  he  had  an  examination  by  his  own  family 
physician.  That  brought  him  over  to  Vernon.  Dr.  Freeman  made  an 
examination  of  his  health ;  and  although  confidentially  the  Dr.  in- 
formed his  father  that  sympto.is  showing  tendency  to  disease  of  the 
heart  were  in  existence,  he  was  pronounced  physically  competent  for 
military  service.  While  he  obtained  his  mother's  indirect  assent  to 
his  enlistment,  his  father  endeavored  to  obtain  for  him  something 
more  than  a  private's  place.  Knox  sought  nothing  for  himself,  but 
it  was  intimated  to  him  that  if  he  would  enlist  in  Brigham's  com- 
pany from  Vernon  (which  became  Company  A),  and  bring  his  squad 
with  him,  he  might  obtain  a  commission  as  second  Lieutenant.  He 
stood,  however,  firmly  by  the  Augusta  boys,  who  soon  pledged  them- 
selves to  each  other  to  go,  and  to  go  together.  The  squad  thus 
formed,  thought  at  one  time  of  going  into  cavalry  service  under  Wat- 
son Seward,  of  Utica,  but  shortly  abandoned  this  suggestion.  This 

*  "A  Year  with  St.  Paul." 


50  A  SKETCH. 

squad  of  sturdy  yeomen,  was  made  up  of  twelve*  young  men  whose 
names  shall  be  handed  down  to  the  Knox  family  posterity  in  full : — 

John  J.  Knox  Williams,  merchant's  clerk  ;  William  Linclsley,  James 
Watson  Beach,  V.  Remrnington  Ennis,  farmers ;  Austin  J.  Kendall, 
merchant;  A.  S.  Cotterell,  farmer ;  Thomas  Gray,  mechanic ;  Isaac  M. 
Miller,  Albert  W.  Bobbins,  Frank  M.West,  Henry  DwightKing,  George 
H.  King,  farmers. 

Fully  committed  now  to  each  other,  they  went  together  to  Rome, 
proceeded  to  camp  Huntingdon,  where,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1862, 
they  enrolled  themselves  as  volunteers,  and  the  next  day,  the  13th, 
were  mustered  into  the  regiment  as  an  important  part  of  company  G. 
Charles  H.  Roys,  who  took  Tacitus'  Agricola,  as  a  Junior  in  Hamil- 
ton College  under  Tutor  Knox  in  1859,  and  was,  therefore,  fully  pre- 
pared for  military  life,was  appointed  captain  of  the  company.  The  ?quad 
was  about  the  last  squad  mustered  in  to  make  up  the  company,  and 
obtained  only  the  offices  of  fifth  sergeant  and  corpornl,  to  which  Knox 
and  Wm.  Lindsley  were  appointed.  The  new  sergeant  being  a  skill- 
ful penman  and  ready  to  work,  became,  on  the  18th,  clerk  for  the 
captain,  and  made  for  him  his  rolls.  His  photograph,  too.  was  then 
taken,  large  and  small,  for  loved  ones  at  home,  and  more  conveniences 
provided  for  himself  than  rigid  military  lav  afterwards  admitted. 
So  prompt  and  strong  was  the  patriotic  spirit,  that  within  a  month  from 
the  appointment  of  Colonel  Pea-e  as  the  organizing  officer,  and  with- 
in three  weeks  from  the  day  when  he  gave  the  regiment  his  entire 
attention,  eleven  hundred  volunteers  were  on  hand  to  answer  to  the 
call  for  a  maximum  quota  often  hundred  and  ten.  The  officers  were 
compelled  to  refuse  to  take  more,  for  every  company  had  its  full  num- 
ber of  one  hundred  and  one  on  the  20th.  On  that  day  the  organiza- 
tion was  complete,  and  the  regiment  received  its  designation  as  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers.  Of 
the  officers  particularly  known  to  our  family,  were  Captain  J.  P.  Stone, 
company  B,  an  old  school-mate  of  Charles  at  the  Rome  Academy,  who 
was  shot  dead  by  a  sharp-shooter  at  Petersburg  Heights  ;  Captain 
George  W.  Brigham,  Company  A.  of  Vernon,  who  died  from  wounds 
received  at  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff.  Sergeant- Major  Milton  Bray- 
ton,  of  the  non-commissioned  staff,  son  of  the  late  elder  Harvey 
Brayton,  of  the  First  Church  of  Rome;  Dr.  Edward  Loomis,  surgeon, 
from  Westmoreland;  and  Rev.  J.  T.  Crippin,  chaplain,  pastor  of  the 

*  "  My  influence  in  getting  the  twelve  men  to  enter,  might  be  mentioned."  Letter 
July  25, 1863. 


A  SKETCH.  51 

Bleeker  St.  Methodist  Church  of  Utica.  The  muster  was  no  sooner  com- 
pleted than  the  Colonel  notified,  by  telegraph,  the  War  Department, 
on  the  20th,  that  the  regiment  was  ready,  and  the  order  came  back  to 
move  on  the  22d,  and  report  in  Washington.  On  that  eventful  Fri- 
day, thousands  filled  the  streets  of  Rome;  the  Rome  parsonage  sent 
her  representatives  to  say  good-bye  ;  the  father  bid  his  son  God-speed  ; 
the  Rev.  James  Irwin,  of  the  Methodist  Church,  Rome,  commended 
the  brave  boys  to  the  God  of  armies  ;  and  at  about  mid-day,  escorted 
by  the  Gansevoort  Light  Guards,  and  by  an  overflowing  concourse 
of  people,  amid  waving  handkerchiefs,  and  cheers,  and  a  thousand 
salutations,  the  fine  regiment,  whose  physical  appearance  was  then 
noted  as  truly  superior,  moved  to  the  cars.  Sisters,  mothers,  and 
lovers,  (for  many  a  secret  engagement  for  marriage  must  then 
needs  be  known,)  said  the  tender  and  anxious  farewell,  and  the  long 
train  of  twenty-two  passenger  coaches  and  four  freight  cars  started  at 
the  whistle.  Oriskany  and  Whitesboro  demonstrated  their  sympa- 
thy and  approval ;  "  the  old  band  "  with  two  thousand  people  hailed 
them  at  Utica;  Judge  Bacon  greeted  them  in  behalf  of  the  county 
military  committee,  and  Uncle  Charlie  shook  his  nephew  by  the  hand. 
Good  spirits  everywhere  prevailed,  and  with  scarcely  a  wet  eye  the 
precious  train  conveying  half  the  life  of  hundreds  of  homes,  departed ; 
and  the  anxious  multitudes  turned  their  eastward  eyes  back  to  their 
pursuits.  The  train  reached  Albany  at  10  o'clock,  too  late  for  the  re- 
ception which  the  city  proposed,  but  barrels  of  sandwiches,  crackers, 
biscuits,  and  cookies  were  rolled  on  board  the  vessels  on  which  the 
regiment  embarked.  Uncle  Strong  gave  our  good  boy  a  greeting, 
and  brought  him  his  rubber  blanket  and  pillow,  which  contributed 
not  a  little  to  his  comforts.  Aunt  Adelaide  had  waited  at  the  store  till 
dark ;  and  it  was  now  impossible  to  accept  his  uncle's  offer  of  a  car- 
riage to  the  house.  About  11  o'clock,  the  regiment  was  afloat  on  the 
Hudson,  a  steamer  with  a  barge  lashed  to  either  side  bearing  them 
on,  and  company  G  fortunately  on  the  steamer.  On  deck  and  on 
boxes  the  new  soldiers  slept.  It  was  his  first  night  on  the  Hudson 
outside  a  state-room,  and  he  slept  '•  in  a  little  tucked-up  place  near 
the  engine,"  and  awakened  expecting  to  find  himself  in  New  York. 
They  were  not  more  than  half  way.  Many  were  the  hearty  recogni- 
tions of  their  loyalty,  which  they  received  from  either  bank  of  the 
river.  Harvesters  iu  the  field  swung  their  hats  or  shouted  as  they 
threw  them  up ;  groups  at  the  doors  of  houses  waved  the  stars  and 
stripes  ;  passengers  in  the  rattling  trains  let  fly  their  handkerchiefs  ; 
children  ran  to  the  wharves  of  towns  to  look  and  cheer ;  and  cheer 


52  A  SKETCH. 

and  shout,  and  swinging  hats,  and  waving  handkerchiefs  sent  back 
the  response  from  the  crowded  decks,  under  the  golden  sun  on  the 
river's  tide.  The  rations  for  the  regiment  had  failed  when  they 
reached  the  land  of  Jersey  at  five  o'clock  on  Saturday  afternoon.  Hon- 
est men  are  now  to  be  found  everywhere  in  that  land,  but  on  that  day 
at  Jersey  City,  amid  the  rush  and  excitement,  the  regiment  were  be- 
set by  petty  thieves,  who  laid  their  hands  on  every  little  article,  and 
water  was  sold  to  the  hot  and  thirsty  patriots  for  two  cents  a  glass. 
Uncle  Talcott  and  cousin  Will.  Talcott,  however,  were  on  hand  to 
cheer  our  family  hero.  At  six  and  a  half  o'clock,  Company  G  and  five 
other  companies  took  one  train  for  Philadelphia,  and  the  remaining 
four  companies  followed  at  about  eight  o'clock.  The  famous  Cooper- 
shop  Saloon  at  Philadelphia,  open  night  and  day  for  moving  regiments, 
gave  them  all  breakfast  of  ham,  bread  and  butter,  tomatoes,  and  coffee. 
On  Sunday  morning,  at  a  long  tier  of  marble  basins,  company  after  com- 
pany took  a  good  wash,  and  then  camped  on  the  sidewalk  till  they 
left  for  Baltimore  at  half-past  eight  in  freight  cars.  At  Havre  de 
Grace,  one  or  two  companies  received  Springfield  muskets  so  as  to 
act  as  guard  through  Baltimore.  Three  miles  of  peaceful  march 
through  Baltimore  gave  the  young  Sergeant  blistered  feet.  No  in- 
sult was  offered,  except  that  one  Secesh  lady  expressed  the  kindly 
vdsh,  that  "  not  one  of  the  regiment  would  live  to  return."  The  regi- 
ment reached  Washington  at  three  o'clock  Monday  morning,  the  25th, 
and  encamped  on  the  floor  of  some  large  barracks  near  the  railroad 
depot.  There  Knox  slept  soundly  three  hours.  Eations  received, 
they  marched  to  Long  Bridge,  halted  half  an  hour,  and  were  then 
ordered,  not  to  cross  the  bridge  into  Virginia,  but  to  Tenallytown, 
seven  miles  north-west  of  Washington,  four  miles  from  Georgetown, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac,  and  in  the  District,  where  they  slept 
for  the  first  time  on  the  ground.  Here  Colonel  Pease  reported  to 
General  Barnard,  Engineer-in-Chief  for  the  Defences  of  Washington. 
Three  men  had  wounded  themselves  with  revolvers.  Some  of  the 
regiment  in  a  corn-field  were  shot  at,  it  was  supposed  by  rebels,  and 
a  scouting  party  were  sent  out  in  pursuit.  No  tents  had  as  yet  been 
provided,  but  were  expected  soon.  And  thus  ou*r  volunteer  has  enlisted 
and  has  so  soon  come  within  range  of  the  enemy,  at  least  of  the  ene- 
my's stragglers  or  sympathizers. 

II.  THE  DEFENCE  OF  WASHINGTON. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Regiment  passed  now  six  and  a 
half  months  in  their  fortification  about  Washington.    From  August 


A  SKETCH.  .-,;{ 

25,  1862,  to  April  15,  1863,  they  encamped  outside  Forts  Alex- 
ander and  Ripley  (Baker).  Pope,  the  boaster,  at  the  beginning  of 
this  time,  had  executed  his  brilliant  march  on  to  Richmond  as  far  as 
Culpepper  Court  House  and  Cedar  Mountain,  had  been  outflanked 
by  Stewart,  had  been  cut  up  by  Lee,  harl  retreated  behind  Fairfax  to 
the  defence  of  Washington,  had  resigned  his  command,  and  left  his 


Army  of  Virginia  to  be  merged  in  McClellan's  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
which  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  now  returned  from  the  James  up 
the  Potomac  to  Acquia  Creek.  This  was  Pope's  campaign  in  north- 


54  A  SKETCH. 

era  Virginia  during  the  month  of  August,  and  ending  September  2, 
1862;  and  when  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  poured  through 
the  excited  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  on  the  25th  of  August,  the  cry  of 
the  newsboys  wa?,  '•  Pope  marching  on  to  Richmond."  The  tents  for 
the  regiment  arrived  on  the  26th  ;  they  were  arranged  in  streets  on  a 
slope  towards  the  Potomac,  and  under  a  grove.  The  raw  sergeant 
was  made  sergeant  of  the  guard  for  twenty-five  hours  without  sleep 
or  rest.  The  next  night  the  regiment  was  roused  by  the  long  roll, 
and  ordered  under  arms.  Chain  Bridge,  three  miles  distant,  is  in  dan- 
ger from  a  sudden  dash  of  the  enemy.  Five  rounds  of  cartridges 
are  distributed.  "  Up  hill  and  down,  through  woods  and  dark  ravines," 
in  the  darkness,  the  regiment  hasten  to  the  Bridge,  where  they  receive 
ten  rounds  of  cartridges  more.  Quick  indeed  is  this  to  go  into  bat- 
tle without  even  a  drill !  The  Colonel  has  been  directed  to  mine  the 
abutments,  and  to  destroy  the  bridge  if  necessary.  It  is  a  false  alarm, 
however ;  no  harm  beyond  a  little  fright  is  done.  The  excursion  is 
playfully  called  the  "Battle  of  Chain  Bridge,"  and  the  regiment 
march  back  at  ten  o'clock  to  Tenallytown.  The  battles  between  Pope 
and  Stonewall  Jackson  were  going  on,  and  they  could  hear  the  artil- 
lery. From  Tenallytown  they  were  shortly  ordered  a  half  mile  dis- 
tant to  pitch  outside  Fort  Pennsylvania,  whence  again,  on  the  26th, 
they  moved  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to  guard  three  forts,  Alexander, 
Eipley,  and  Franklin.  Two  of  these  forts  were  unfinished,  and  the 
three  and  their  connecting  fortifications  formed  nearly  a  semi-circle 
on  the  high  bluff  of  the  Potomac,  from  which  their  guns  could  sweep 
five  miles  riverward  or  landward.  The  scenery  was  fine,  the  Ohio 
and  Chesapeake  Canal  between  them  and  the  river,  the  Chain  Biidge 
in  sight,  with  great  troops  of  infantry,  cavalry,  artillery  and  baggage 
wagons,  and  many  a  loyal  flag  floating  over  fortifications  on  the  hills 
of  Virginia,  and  thousands  of  tents  on  the  hills,  "  which  look  mag- 
nificently at  night  when  lit  up."  This  was  their  camp  at  Fort  Alex- 
ander, Maryland.  On  the  1st,  Companies  G  and  B  were  ordered  to 
fell  the  woods  in  front  of  the  forts,  in  order  to  open  a  range  for  the 
guns,  and  to  obstruct  the  roads.  The  tents  in  camp  are  crowded,  six 
or  seven  occupying  the  space  sufficient  only  for  four  or  five ;  but  with 
milk,  bread,  melons,  peaches,  and  wild  grapes,  chickens  and  potatoes, 
the  squad  live  well,  and  the  general  health  of  the  regiment  is  good. 
With  marching  and  moving  camp,  and  chopping  of  trees  and  wood, 
they  have,  as  yet,  no  drill.  Here  the  regiment  remained  until  the 
middle  of  November  on  guard  and  on  fatigue  duty.  The  camp  life 
was  not  exciting,  but  the  little  incidents  show  the  feeling  of  the 


A  SKETCH.  55 

common  soldier  at  that  time.  The  four  companies  which  fell  the 
trees  have  roll-call  at  five  and  a  half  o'clock,  and  breakfas*  at  seven 
o'clock,  fall  in  for  the  woods,  chop  on  the  trees  to  the  music  of  two 
or  tliree  hundred  axes  till  twelve,  march  1'ack  to  camp  for  dinner  and 
resume  the  music  with  variations  of  pine  trunks  and  oak  branches 
till  six  p.  M.  Some  of  the  boys  do  not  )ike  the  axe-work  nor  the 
rations,  but  Knox  takes  comfort  in  his  rubber  pillow  at  night  and 
says,  "  I  am  very  well  suited  and  expect  to  take  things  as  they  come." 
The  tent  mates  are  six:  Knox,  Kendall,  Robbins,  the  two  Kings,  and 
Miller.  The  tent,  of  course,  crowded,  and  the  loose  cups,  plates,  etc., 
stowe-l  away  in  a  box  set  up  in  front.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Crippin  an- 
nounces a  week-day  prayer-meeting  in  the  open  air,  and  services  the 
following  Sunday,  if  the  weather  permit,  and  is  well  liked  by  the 
boys.  The  Sunday  service  was  held  at  two  and  a  half  o'clock,  the 
weekly  inspection  occupying  the  forenoon,  and  prayer-meeting  Sun- 
day evening  at  seven.  Company  G  gained  a  reputation  as  a  great  letter- 
writing  company,  and  supplies  to  and  draws  from  the  tri-weekly 
mail  bag  a  large  proportion  of  its  contents.  As  a  larger  proportion 
than  usual  of  the  company  are  unmarried,  the  busy  pens  are  supposed 
to  sing,  "  The  girl  I  left  behind  me.''  Knox  is  kept  in  camp  half  the 
time  making  out  pay-rolls.  He  has  a  visit  from  Eddie  Anderson, 
\v  iom  he  describes  as  having  changed  some  and  is  '•  quite  a  nice- 
looking  hoy,''  enjoys  his  rations,  sleeps  soundly  rolled  in  his  blanket 
on  the  board  tent  floor,  and  is  actually  growing  fat,  gaining  ten 
pounds  in  thirty-five  days. 

A  battery  of  four  brass  six-pounders  arrives,  and  is  mounted  at  the 
head  of  his  camp  street,  with  a  range  of  the  river  and  woods  for  two 
miles.  Three  desertions  t  >ke  place,  two  of  which  are  recovered,  and 
the  mi.-creants  brought  back  to  the  guard-house.  There  is  need 
enough  of  the  fortification!  around  Washington,  for  Lee  and  his 
ragged  troops,  elated  by  success  over  Pope,  have  crossed  the  Potomac 
at  Leeslmrg,  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  above  our  brave  boys' 
encampment.  The  invading  ariny  crosses  the  river  on  the  4th  or  7th 
of  September,  singing  ''My  Maryland,"  with  a  proclamation  of  Lee 
inviting  the  Marylanders  to  join  the  Southern  army,  and  with  hopes 
to  rouse  the  people  of  the  State  to  the  standard  of  revolt. 

On  the  Union  side,  McClellan.  restored  to  command,  marched  with 
87,000  men,  b,  five  parallel  roads,  towards  Frederick  City,  some  forty 
miles  north  west  from  Washington,  the  army  covering  the  space  be- 
tween the  Potomac  river  and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  thus 
covering  both  Baltimore  and  Washington.  Lee's  forces,  under  Stone- 


56  A  SKETCH. 

wall  Jackson,  had  taken  Harper's  Ferry  (on  the  15th).  McClellan  bad 
forced  the  passes  of  South  Mountain  (the  Blue  Ridge,  in  Maryland,)  on 
the  14th  and  15th.  Lee's  plan  was  to  march  straight  north  into 
Pennsylvania,  tap  the  Cumberland  valley  at  Chambersburg.  and  com- 
pel the  Union  army  away  from  Washington  and  Baltimore.  The 
drawn-battle  of  Antietam  was  fought  on  the  Ifith  and  17th,  at  Sharps- 
burg,  about  eight  miles  north  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  McClellan's 
inactivity  on  the  18th  permitted  Lee  to  e-cnpe  on  the  18th  through 
Harper's  Ferry  into  the  Shenandoah  valley  to  Winchester. 

On  the  26th  of  September  Knox  has  a  pass  for  Washington  ;  visits 
the  public  institut:ons — except  the  Capitol,  which  is  being  used  as  a 
hospital ;  has  his  photograph  taken  ;  gets  letters  from  his  Aunt  Emma 
and  Uncle  Henry,  is  brought  back  by  his  Uncle  Jay,  whom  he  intro- 
duces to  the  Augusta  boys  ;  sees  Joe  Warren,  who  has  his  discharge, 
and  is  going  home  next  week.  The  boys  have  a  splendid  swim 
in  the  Potomac,  and  magnify  its  clear  water ;  and  the  rubber-pillow 
comes  again  into  play,  to  help  these  lads  from  the  high  lands  of  Au- 
gusta, who  never  could  find  water  enough  at  home  in  which  to  learn 
to  swim.  Grapes  came  in  from  the  woods,  corn  from  the  corn-field, 
and  by  soaking  the  hard  crackers  for  a  couple  of  hours  in  water 
before  cooking,  they  are  made  "  first-rate." 

"  Albert  Shearman  has  been  transferred  to  Company  A." 

The  popular  song, — 

"  1  wish  I  were  in  Oneida  County, 
Then  Uncle  Sam  might  keep  his  bounty, 
Chop  away,  chop  away,  chop  away  in  Dixie,"  — 

now  must  be  changed  to  "  Dig  away,  dig  away,"  for  150  men  are  now 
detailed  to  work  on  the  rifle-pits  which  are  being  dug  around  the 
three  forts.  "  The  regiment  is  praised  by  the  Colonel  for  their  firing 
on  parade."  Lieutenant  Millard  becomes  Adjutant ;  the  5th  sergeant 
becomes  4th  sergeant ;  Thomas  Gray  is  made  corporal ;  "  and  Miller 
keeps  us  in  a  roar  half  the  time,  but  does  his  duty  well."  The  two 
tents  of  the  Augusta  squad  are  pronounced  on  inspection  the  finest 
on  the  street — evergreens  now  adorn  the  tent  and  form  the  bed ; 
Major-General  Banks  and  Colonel  Haskins  ride  through  the  regiment, 
and  the  rations  "  taste  a  good  sight  better  than  the  dinner  he  had 
in  Washington  with  Uncle  Jay."  Orders  were  Issued  for  the  regi- 
ment to  move  to  Minnesota  to  fight  the  Indians,  but  were  counter- 
manded. There  are  rumors  of  peace  in  process  of  negotiation  by  the 
peace  commissioners,  and  the  Major  thinks  they  will  be  home  by  the  1st 


A  SKETCH.  57 

of  January.  Perkins,  from  the  corners,  in  Company  I\,  has  shot  his 
thumb,  so  that  the  first  joint  must  be  amputated ;  and  Kirk  Talcott, 
of  the  engineer  corps,  writes  from  Fernandina,  Fla.,  from  the  midst 
of  heat  and  mosquitoes.  In  the  middle  of  October  the  company  begins 
to  bring  logs  and  boards  to  build  winter-quarters.  With  what  boards 
they  can  "  snatch  "  and  buy,  the  Augusta  boys  erect  a  concern,  Knox 
says,  which  would  pass  for  a  very  good  pig-pen  at  home,  but  is  pro- 
nounced by  every  one  who  visits  it,  the  best  in  the  regiment.  "  It 
is  built  at  the  foot  of  Roys  Avenue,"  and  is  five  feet  high,  nine  feet 
wide,  and  eighteen  feet  long.  "  Our  two  tents  are  placed  on  top,  and 
loom  up  some  twelve  feet,  presenting  quite  a  grand  appearance  in 
contrast  with  tents  that  set  on  the  ground,  or  on  logs  three  or  four  feet 
high."  In  the  interior  are  three  berths  at  each  end,  with  room  in  each 
berth  for  two  ;  and,  for  a  stove,  they  have  the  top  of  an  old  stove,  and 
bricks  laid  with  lime  and  mud,  which  they  declare  much  better  than 
the  sheet-iron  stoves  which  the  boys  bring  into  camp.  To  crown  all, 
is  a  kitten  which  came  in  one  day,  and  which  they  intend  to  keep 
for  a  pet,  and  which  they  reckon  will  be  a  right  smart  cat  before 
spring,  and  which  manages  to  get  a  warm  berth  next  one  of  them 
every  ni.'?ht.  Two  or  three  weeks  later  another  kitten  arrives,  which 
two  kittens  are  christened  "  Maryland  "  and  "  Columbia  ;  "  one  of  the 
boys  says  worth  forty  babies."  Their  larder  is  so  well  supplied  that 
the  captain  thinks  they  had  gotten  into  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment ;  the  cupboard  contains  thirty  loaves  of  bread,  and  they  live, 
they  say,  "  on  the  top  shelf." 

Kendall,  who  was  on  guard  in  the  rainy  night  of  September  12th, 
was  obliged  to  come  in  at  four  o'clock,  and  was  down  all  the  day. 
Some  of  the  rest  are  sick  ;  but  Knox,  who  seemed  so  slender,  is  physi- 
cally the  best  man  in  the  squad.  And  why  ?  "  While  eating  supper," 
he  of  the  good  appetite  writes,  "  a  report  came  of  an  advance  of 
rebel  cavalry,  and  additional  pickets  have  been  thrown  out,  and  every 
man  has  been  supplied  with  forty  rounds  of  cartridges,  and  rifled  field- 
pieces  have  been  placed  in  the  battery,  but  amid  all  the  excitement 
they  could  not  choke  me  off  from  sweet  potatoes  and  fresh  beef." 
However,  Lindsley  was  afterwards  sick  for  two  weeks,  and  Kendall 
and  Gray  again  down.  Two  deserters  receive  their  sentence  from 
court  martial,  three  and  six  months  imprisonment,  the  brand  of  letter 
D,  a  shaved  head,  and  to  be  drummed  out  of  camp. 

Religious  life  is  not  neglected.  "  The  church  formed  by  our  chap- 
lain,'' writes  Knox, ' '  numbers  four  of  the  Augusta  boys  among  its  num- 
bers (Kendall,  Robbins,  Knox,  and  Lindsley).  Services  are  held  every 


58  A  SKETCH. 

Sunday  afternoon  and  evening.  "VVe  read  a  chapter  in  the  Testament 
every  evening  in  the  tent,  after  which  one  of  us  leads  in  prayer,  and 
we  go  to  sleep."  He  says,  too,  of  the  new  winter  quarters :  "  We 
moved  in  yesterday  and  are  not  yet  settled,  but  are  just  as  it  happens 
for  the  Sabbath.''1  Our  brave  boys  had  a  conscience  towards  God  as  well 
as  towards  their  country  !  "  We  have  beside  our  church  services  on  the 
Sabbath,  a  weekly  prayer-meeting  every  Thursday  evening."  One 
other  thing  is  to  be  noticed  before  they  break  camp  on  the  14th  of 
November. 

"Last  night,"  writes  Knox,  on  the  21st  of  October,  "our  teamster 
brought  up  fifty  seven  boxes  for  the  regiment."  And  later,  in  appar- 
ent answer  to  his  father's  incredulity,  he  says  :  "  Tarn  not  mistaken 
in  saying  that  our  teamster  brought  up  fifty-seven  boxes.  Every  day 
or  two  one  of  our  teamsters  brings  as  many  boxes  as  four  horse-;  can 
draw,  so  that  were  are  not  the  only  ones  that  get  goodies  from  home." 
Where  did  the  boxes  come  from  ?  Theirs  came  from  a  society  at  this 
good  'boro,  which  completed  its  organization  at  the  house  of  William 
Pierce  on  September  26th,  as  "  The  Home  Guard  of  Company  G"  of 
which  James  A.  Gray  was  first  elected  President,  and  on  declining, 
James  C.  Knox  was  elected  in  his  place  ;  M.  S.  Miller,  Vice-President ; 
Emma  L.  Knox,  Secretary ;  and  Philemon  Van  Evera,  Treasurer  ;  and 
at  which  meeting,  letters  were  read  from  Knox  Williams,  Lindsk-y, 
Kendall,  King,  and  two  from  Miller.  This  home  guard,  like  thou- 
sands of  like  associations  throughout  the  country,  was  a  most  efficient 
aid  and  comfort  to  the  brave  boys  in  the  field.  The  meetings  were 
sources  of  no  little  entertainment.  A  delinquent  committee  was  sol- 
emnly admonished,  that  if  they  failed  or  were  absent  again,  they  would 
be  treated  as  deserters.  The  third  meeting  was  regaled,  at  the  request 
of  the  President  (not  the  U.  S.  President,  but  President  Knox  of  the 
Home  Guard),  with  a  potato  story  by  Mr.  Miller,  and  letters  were  read 
from  MLler,  Bobbins,  Beach,  West,  and  Kendall.  The  fourth  meeting 
was  changed  from  Mr.  Bobbins'  to  James  C.  Knox's,  as  the  President 
explained,  because  it  was  easier  to  change  the  place  of  meeting  than 
to  postpone  a  wedding.  Remarks  and  prayer  were  made  at  the  fifth 
meeting  by  Rev.  O.  Bartholomew,  and  letters  from  Miller  and  Ennis 
were  read.  The  number  of  members  present  at  the  second  meeting  was 
sixteen;  forty-two  at  the  third;  fifty-one  at  the  fourth,  and  the  full 
membership  ran  up  to  one  hundred  and  fifty-five.  As  indicative  of  the 
spirit  of  the  association,  on  Feb.  4th,  1863,  when  the  thermometer  rnn 
twenty  degrees  below  zero,  eighty  were  present.  The  barrels  and 
boxes  dispatched  were  not  stinted  in  number  or  iu  goodies,  nor  were 


A  SKETCH.  59 

they  confined  to  Company  G.  Bates'  Battery  shared  as  well,  and  the 
hospitals  afterwards  were  cired  for.  The  whole  country  was  startled 
ji:st  then  in  the  middle  of  October  by  the  swift  raid  of  Stuart  into 
Pennsylvania,  who  occupied  Chambersburg,  burned  Government 
stores  there,  and  although  fast  pursued,  made  an  entire  circuit  of 
McClellan's  army,  and  escaped  into  Virginia. 

McClellan  a'terwards  pushed  forward  down  the  Shenandoah  Val- 
ley, where  he  was  again  superseded  in  command  ;  Burnside  this  time 
taking  his  place,  on  the  7th  of  November.  However,  the  camp  is 
breaking  up  at  Fort  Alexander.  Let  us  hasten  back. 

Carn[,  ^fl>/•l•^x,  Md. — The  camp  broke  up  on  the  12th  of  November  ; 
but  our  boy  was  not  in  camp.  He  and  Robbins  were  out  on  picket, 
and  returning,  found  their  house  torn  up.  On  the  17th  he  writes: 
"  Last  Wednesday  morning  I  was  out  on  picket.  I  found  the  regiment 
gone,  when  I  returned,  relieved  by  the  18th  Maine.  Everything  was 
gone  with  the  regiment,  except  some  cooking  utensils  and  a  few  of 
the  best  tents,  which  were  used  as  hospitals.  Our  tent  was  filled. 
The  surgeon  had  made  a  requisition  for  seven  ambulances  from  Wash- 
ington, to  remove  those  who  were  not  able  to  go  with  the  regiment 
to  the  General  Hospital,  but  they  did  not  come  till  quite  late.  After 
we  had  assisted  them  to  pack  up,  and  had  seen  them  safely  in  the  am- 
bulances, among  whom  were  Remington  Ennis  and  Henry  D.  King, 
I  arranged  those  that  remained  as  comfortably  as  I  could  for  the 
night,  and  stowed  myself  away,  sleeping  soundly  till  the  next  morn- 
ing, when  the  teamsters  came  for  what  remained,  and  we  were  obliged 
to  strike  our  tents  and  bid  farewell  to  our  old  home."  "  The  new 
camp  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  gradually  sloping  hill-side,  only  two 
miles  from  Fort  Alexander,  and  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  our  old 
camping  ground  at  Tenallytown."  "  We  came  here  to  work  on  the 
rifle-pits,  which  are  being  built  around  the  defences  at  Washington. 
We  have,  I  understand,  only  about  ten  days'  work  on  the  pits."  The 
new  camp  is  Camp  Morris,  near  Fort  Mansfield.  The  soil,  however,  was 
soft,  and  the  rains  frequent  and  abundant,  and  the  camp  became  such 
a  slough,  that  the  regiment  gave  it  the  name  of  "  Camp  Mud."  Here 
the  boys  of  the  tent  work  all  day  to  make  an  underground  stove,  a 
trench  beginning  in  a  outside  fire-place  on  one  side  of  the  tent, 
covered  with  stones  where  it  passes  through  the  tent,  and  ending  in  a 
chimney  out  side  at  the  back  end  of  the  tent.  Like  all  the  grand 
plans  of  this  buoyant  squad,  it  works  to  a  charm. 

But  they  are  not  destined  to  enjoy  it.     For,  after  about  a  weeks 
sojourn,  on   the  24th   November,  five  companies   moved  a  mile  to- 


GO 


A  SKETCH. 


ward  Tenallytown.     The  report  is  that  they  will  go  into  winter-quar- 
ters there.     Company  G  followed,  and,  although  they  did  not  go  into 


Bottom  of  Tent  inside 


I  f 


Trench 


a 

fire  Place* 

winter-quarters,  they  proceeded  to  make  themselves  comfortable  by 
another  warming-trench,  pictured  with  Knox's  pen  as  follows  : 


Just  before  they  arrived  they  were  surprised  to  see  in  the  New  York 
"  Tribune's  "  list  of  those  who  had  died  in  the  Washington  Hospital,  the 
name  of  V.  Remington  Ennis,  the  only  one  of  the  company  who  had 
thus  far  died,  and  one  of  their  squad.  They  were  greatly  surprised, 
not  knowing  that  he  was  considered  dangerously  sick.  Miller  and 
Knox  procured  a  pass  for  Washington,  and  found  him  already  buried. 

Knox  is  pleased  to  see  how  comparatively  quiet  the  city  is  on  Sun- 
day. Their  new  camp  is  still  called  Camp  Morris,  where  they  are  now 
visited  by  Mr.  Morris  S.  Miller  from  home,  who  comes  as  a  carpet- 
bagger, and  brings  his  bag  filled  with  good  things,  and  who  is  also 
on  the  sad  errand  of  the  removal  of  Ennis'  body.  Knox,  Kendall, 
and  Miller,  go  with  him  to  Washington  to  assist  him.  The  Home 
Guard,  on  Mr.  Miller's  return,  at  its  meeting  of  December  3,  1862, 
adopted  suitable  resolutions  commending  the  character  of  the  dead, 
which  were  transmitted  to  his  friends  and  to  the  brave  boys  in  camp. 
He  died  of  fever  contracted  in  camp.  Mr.  Miller  at  that  meeting 
spoke  of  his  sickness  and  death,  of  his  neglect  of  himself  and  kind- 
ness to  others.  At  Camp  Morris,  wherever  they  dig  they  find  soap- 
stone,  so  that  the  small  fort  or  redoubt  which  the  regiment  were  then 
building,  and  designated  Fort  Elliptic,  was  called  by  the  men  "  Soap- 


A  SKETCH.  61 

stone  Port."  Knox  now  weighs  135  Ibs.,  a  gain  of  20  Ibs.  since  he 
left  home  three  months  before.  Thanksgiving  goodies,  a  roast  tur- 
key in  a  box,  etc.,  came  a  little  too  late  for  Thanksgiving  day,  but  not 
too  late  for  eager  appetites.  Company  I  had  lost  six  men  on  Dec.  llth, 
but  Company  G  only  two.one  of  whom  had  been  discharged  and  died  at 
Jersey  City.  For  a  while  the  sergeants  do  not  have  to  go  out  to 
the  rifle-pits ;  but  afterwards,  in  the  short  winter  days,  tliey  must 
answer  the  roll-call  at  daybreak,  and  be  off  to  the  pits  at  eight  and 
again  from  one  to  five  o'clock.  The  air  is  now,  in  the  middle  of 
December,  piercingly  cold.  Hardly  a  week  passes  without  a  tent 
catching  on  fire,  and  if  once  fairly  in  a  blaze  it  burns  to  the  ground. 
The  Colonel  drills  the  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  serves  some  practical  jokes  on  the  inexperienced  officers,  in  the 
evolutions,  sprawling  the  dignity  of  some  at  full  length  on  the  ground. 
The  Chaplain  presents  to  the  regiment,  drawn  up  in  hollow  square,  a 
beautiful  silk  banner,  the  gift  of  the  ladies  of  Utica.  As  usual,  Knox 
writes  his  letter  seated  flat  on  the  floor  with  paper  on  knee,  some  of 
the  boys  in  a  snooze,  while  he  keeps  the  pen  in  motion  as  long  as  the 
candle  holds  out.  Orders  have  now  come  to  break  the  regiment  into 
two  battalions  and  move  to  two  new  posts.  During  their  encamp- 
ment at  Camp  Morris,  from  Nov.  12th  to  Dec.  24th,  Burnside  was 
conducting  his  campaign  against  Fredericksburg ;  and  on  Dec.  13th, 
1862,  the  sixty-seventh  birthday  of  the  illustrious  bride  of  the  Dia- 
mond Wedding,  that  terrible  and  useless  slaughter  took  place,  which 
resulted  in  nothing  but  the  most  bloody  defeat  of  the  war.  Burn- 
side  had  abandoned  an  advantage,  and  gained  a  defeat. 

Camp  near  Fort  Ripley. — On  the  24th  of  December,  the  regiment 
was  divided  into  two  battalions.  The  first  battalion,  composed  of 
Companies  A,  B,  C,  D,  and  K,  were  ordered  through  Georgetown  and 
Washington  across  the  east  branch  of  the  Potomac,  where  at  Fort 
Baker,  about  two  miles  from  Navy  Yards,  Col.  Pease,  as  acting  Brig- 
adier-General, took  command  of  that  portion  of  the  Potomac  defences 
—  guarding  especially  the  East  Branch  Bridge,  over  which  Booth, 
the  assassin,  afterwards  escaped.  The  second  battalion,  composed  of 
Companies  E,  F,  G,  H,  and  I,  under  command  of  Lieut.-Colonel 
White,  was  ordered  from  Camp  Morris  about  two  mites  westward 
along  and  towards  the  Potomac,  where  the  battalion  did  much  of  the 
work  of  building  Fort  Ripley  and  the  adjacent  forts.  The  situation 
was  not  far  from  their  old  camp  at  Fort  Alexander,  and  from  it  the 
Twenty-second  X.  J.  went  to  the  fatal  front  at  Fredericksburg. 
Knox's  duties  are  light;  he  is  acting  Sergeant-major  for  the  detach- 


62  A  SKETCH. 

ment,  and  is  to  have  Kendall  for  clerk.  He  has  details  of  soldiers  to 
make  out,  orders  to  copy,  to  be  present  to  form  the  guard  at  guard- 
mounting,  and  at  dress  parade.  The  whole  great  army  now,  however, 
was  thrown  into  great  discontent  and  complaint.  The  Fredericks- 
burg  fight  was  a  terrible  shock.  They  had  lost  confidence  in  Burn- 
side,  who  had  been  removed,  and  only  fighting  Joe  Hooker  was  in 
command.  The  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  did  its  share  of  com- 
plaining about  this  time.  "  What's  the  use  of  digging,  digging  " — 
"  We  have  been  half  a  year  in  service  and  are  yet  only  at  the  Capital." 
On  the  first  of  January,  President  Lincoln  issued  the  great  Emanci- 
pation Proclamation,  which  was  warmly  discussed  in  the  regiment, 
and  found  few  who  thought  of  it  with  disfavor.  Knox  then  feared 
he  was  going  to  have  a  fever,  was  very  weak,  with  a  high  pulse,  but 
is  soon  about  again.  The  holiday  barrels  of  the  Home  Guard  came. 
They  expect  to  stay  all  winter  in  their  new  quarters.  Knox  has 
hardly  anything  to  do  after  guard-mounting  at  half-past  eight  in 
the  morning,  and  rea<Js  Victor  Hugo's  "  Les  Miserables."  The  new 
winter  quarters  are  built  of  stockades.  He  now  feels  like  him- 
self again,  but  is  constantly  taking  medicine  for  his  cold,  and  on  the 
16th,  weighs  157  Ibs.  The  boys  who  have  been  at  the  hospital — Linds- 
ley  and  H.  D.  King — are  back  again,  and  King,  Kendall,  Miller,  and 
Bobbins  are  still  his  tent-mates.  They  attend  church  services  as 
regularly  as  they  are  held.  After  five  and  a  half  months  of  life  as  a 
soldier,  he  writes,  "  I  can  hardly  realize  it,  the  time  has  passed  so  pleas- 
antly and  so  quickly  away."  The  first  Sergeant,  for  a  misdemeanor,  has 
just  then  been  reduced  to  the  ranks,  and  Knox  becomes  third  Sergeant. 
The  company  is  proud  of  their  Captain,  although  he  is  under  arrest  for  a 
technical  offence.  Towards  the  end  of  January,  the  Augusta  boys 
are  all  well ;  William  Lindsley,  who  has  been  in  the  hospital  two 
months,  weighing  203,  and  Knox  recovered  from  his  cold,  weighs 
159$.  He  has  a  visit  to  Washington  the  last  week  of  the  month,  sees 
Edward  Putnam  and  others.  The  battalion  is  reviewed  and  inspected 
by  Lieut.-Col.  W.  H.  Seward,  Jr.,  on  the  30th.  On  the  loth  of  February, 
a  visit  from  Uncle  and  Aunt  Talcott,  brings  him  a  box  of  good  things 
from  the  Talcott  cousins.  With  his  Aunt  and  Uncle  he  calls  on  Mrs. 
Lieut.-Col.  W.  H.  Seward,  Jr.,  at  her  log-house  in  a  neighboring  reg- 
iment, whom  he  describes  as  ua  nice  little  woman,  and  has  one  of 
the  sweetest  little  babies  I  have  ever  seen."  He  seems  to  have  reversed 
his  opinion  about  kittens  and  babies.  The  Talcotts  visit  too  Tom 
Barton,  who  is  in  the  other  battalion.  They  have  visits  of  some 
days  long  from  Mr.  Hough  ton  and  Corporal  Lindsley's  brother,  who 


A  SKETCH.  63 

bring  him  all  the  news  from  Oneida  Co.  He  has  now  explored  Wash- 
ington pretty  thoroughly,  and  does  not  think  it  much  of  a  town.  Penn- 
sylvania Avenue  is  in  worse  condition/  than  he  ever  knew  Seneca 
Street  in  Vernon.  However,  Frank  West  and  himself  attend  the 
President's  levee,  and  have  the  pleasure  of  shaking  the  hand  of  Old 
Abe.  The  rest  of  the  Knoxboro  party  are  too  late.  Two  of  the 
Captains  and  one  Lieutenant  have  resigned  (Feb.  24),  and  are  ordered 
to  appear  before  a  military  board,  one  of  whom,  Capt.  Roys,  they 
are  sorry  to  lose  ;  and  they  are  on  the  qui  tixe  for  promotions.  His 
weight  is  103  Ibs.  Messrs.  Kendall,  Bobbins,  and  Beach,  from 
Augusta,  pay  them  a  visit  with  plenty  of  news  and  trunks  of  good 
things.  With  respect  to  promotion,  he  says  March  15,  1863:  '%  There 
are  others  who  are  by  right  entitled  to  the  office  of  Sergeant-major 
before  me."  He  will  not  apply  for  n  furlough  till  next  October,  so  as 
to  be  at  the  "  Golden  Wedding  " — weight  170.  During  the  first 
week  in  April,  the  battalion  turn  out  "  en  masse,"  and  plant  red  cedars 
in  front  of  each  tent,  giving  a  proud  appearance  to  the  camp.  The 
Chaplain  has  disappeared  from  their  battalion,  but  the  boys  estab. 
lish  meetings  Sabbath  afternoon  and  evening,  and  Thursday  evening- 
He  sees  President  Lincoln  and  son  and  the  cabinet  at  a  grand  Union 
meeting  at  the  capital.  Knox  sends  his  love  to  Sauchie  from  u  her 
^cousin."  The  winter  evenings  have  been  regaled  by  "  Joe  " — a 
contraband  boy — who  is  full  of  comicalities  and  stories  and  devotion 
to  his  absent  "  Sarah  Johnson." 

On  April  12,  they  are  ordered  to  be  ready  to  take  the  field  by  the 
15th,  to  provide  forty  rounds  of  ammunition  in  cartridge  boxes,  and 
sixty  rounds  for  each  man  in  wagons,  and  seven  days'  rations  in  the 
haversacks.  "  The  c  imp  is  all  astir,  the  men  packing  knapsacks, 
the  cooks  cooking  rations,  officers  making  out  returns.  It  does 
not  seem  much  like  a  Sabbath  at  home,  though  I  think  that  our  men 
are  disposed  not  to  break  the  day  any  more  than  it  is  necessary." 
"  Where  we  go,"  he  says,  "  the  order  does  not  state — it  only  says,  'be 
ready  to  take  the  field,'  whenever  that  may  be.  I  shall  hope  for 
God's  blessing  to  arc  >mpany  us  and  lead  us  safely  through  every 
danger." 

3.  SUFFOLK,  AND  THE  PENINSULA  RAID. 

Their  destination  was  rumored  to  be  Norfolk,  and  so  proved.  In  tho 
vicinity  of  that  place,  the  regiment  remained  for  three  and  a  half 
months — from  April  17  to  July  30.  During  that  period  fighting  Joe 
Hooker — in  April  and  May — executed  his  brilliant  passage  of  the 


64  A  SKETCH. 

Rappahannock  at  Chancellorville  and  retreated  in  defeat,  and  in  June 
and  July  the  Confederate  invasion  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  took  place.  Just  then,  in  April,  the  rebel  Longstreet  was 
making  a  demonstration  against  Norfolk.  He  had  reached  Suffolk, 
and  there  was  danger  of  Norfolk — Navy  Yard  and  all — falling  into 
his  hands.  Suffolk  also  protected  the  north-eastern  end  of  North 
Carolina.  General  John  J.  Peck,  of  Syracuse,  held  the  command  at 
Suffolk.  On  the  15th  of  April,  then  the  Second  Battalion  marched 
down  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  exciting  general  notice  and  admiration, 
to  transports  near  the  Washington  Navy  Yard  wharf,  where  they 
found  the  First  Battalion  already  arrived.  Loud  cheers  rang  out 
from  one  to  the  other  as  the  two  parts  of  the  regiment  were  united. 
The  regiment  was  now  well  disciplined,  and  as  many  of  them  were 
intelligent  and  fine  in  physique,  it  was  a  vigorous  one.  Two  rivers 
boats  took  them  up  and  steamed  with  them  down  the  Potomac, 
down  Chesapeake  Bay  into  the  mouth  of  the  James.  Two  nights 
and  a  day,  and  they  were  in  Norfolk  harbor.  Knox's  note  to  his 
father  is  wiitten  as  the  Battalion  broke  up  at  2.30  A.  M.  on  the  loth. 
"  We  leave  at  daylight,  and  are  to  embark  at  the  foot  of  Sixth  Street. 
The  whole  camp  are  up,  and  we  will  be  made  to  fall  in  at  a  moment's 
notice.  May  God  go  with  us  and  protect  us."  He  had  a  chance  to 
bid  Uncle  Jay  good-bye  in  Washington,  slept  well  on  the  over-loaded 
and  rocking  boat,  and  hid  an  hour  in  which  to  see  Norfolk.  That 
city  was  quiet  enough,  and  the  price  of  articles  for  purchase  just 
then  depended  on  your  answer  to  the  question,  u  What  kind  of  money 
do  you  pay  in  ?  "  The  troops  at  once  took  the  cars  for  Suffolk — twenty 

miles  away  on  the  Nansemond 
River.  Passing  the  edge  of  the 
Dismal  Swamp,  the  boom  of 
Longstreet's  cannon  began  to  be 
heard  above  the  rattle  of  the  train. 
The  silence  of  the  boys  as  they 
alighted,  showed  they  considered 
the  guns  quite  near  enough,  except 
when  some  wag  rallied  his  com- 
rade by  saying,  "  Say,  Bill,  I 
believe  you  come  to  fight,  not 
to  dig."  As  they  march  through  Suffolk  the  entertainment  of 
novelty  was  shared  by  Yank  troops  and  Secesh  people,  and  one 
little  five-year-old  in  a  window,  held  by  a  mother,  who  had  given 
him  a  Southern  description  of  "  the  Yankees,"  said  to  her,  "  but 


A  SKETCH. 


65 


Ma,  they  are  a  kind  o1  mans!"  The  Nansemond  River  flows  straight 
north  to  the  James,  aud  was  the  dividing  line  between  loyal  and 
rebel  forces.  Artillery  resounded  and  an  occasional  bullet  came  whiz- 
zing before  the  report  of  the  rifle  which  sent  it.  The  regiment  halted 
and  lay  on  its  arms  all  night — three  miles  north  of  the  town  and  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  It  has  been  ordered  to  hold  the  extreme 
right — the  north  end — of  the  defences,  and  for  this  purpose  they 
soon  move  out  three  or  four  miles  further  on  a  cape  known  as 
Gaboon's  Point,  where  they  remained  nearly  a  month.  Bullets  from 


ouses. 


Orchard . 


Rebel  Battery 
5  Pieces.  Open  field. 


*  JfTiere  Me  89'.* 
o  Gun  floats. 

The  house  on  this  side  is  the  one  we  plundered.  The  shore  of  the 
river  on  both  sides,  is  lined  most  of  the  way  with  trees  near  the  banks, 
while  back  it  is  cleared  and  cultivated. 

over  the  river  admonished  them  not  to  occupy  the  extreme  point — 
but  their  superior  height  a  few  rods  to  the  rear  gave  them  command 
5 


66  A  SKETCH. 

of  the  Rebel  battery  opposite.  A  squad  of  sharp-shooters  is  ordered 
into  the  rifle-pits,  where  Knox  saw  the  Rebel  sharp-shooters  opposite. 
A  head  above  the  breast-work  draws  a  bullet,  "  which,"  he  says,  "  we 
can  easily  dodge  by  watching  the  smoke."  Trees  concealed  their  reg- 
iment from  the  enemy,  and  a  battery  in  front  protects  them.  Cot- 
terel,  of  the  squad,  when  occupied  in  cutting  down  trees  in  front 
of  the  battery,  brought  a  storm  of  bullets  on  himself.  Five  bullets 
struck  in  one  tree,  but  he  was  not  hit.  They  plunder  the  poultry-yard 
and  a  house.  One  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  of  the  89th 
N.  Y.  Volunteers  steam  down  the  river  in  a  gun-boat — make  a  dash 
and  capture  the  battery  opposite— the  important  matter  which  did 
much  to  defeat  Longstreet's  seige  of  Suffolk.  Knox's  plan  and  de- 
scription, contained  in  his  letter,  is  on  the  preceding  page. 

The  gun-boat  "  came  steaming  down  as  if  to  run  by,  but  instead, 
landed  in  a  bend  not  over  twenty  or  thirty  rods  above,  and  in  less 
than  fifteen  minutes,  took  the  rebel  battery,  five  splendid  brass  twelve- 
pound  pieces,  150  or  200  prisoners,  and  a  quantity  of  ammunition. 
When  they  made  the  charge,  our  regiment  were  all  ready  to  move 
and  expected  to  go  over.  The  rebels  expected  the  boat  to  run  by, 
and  were  all  ready  to  sink  her  the  moment  she  arrived  opposite  their 
guns,  but  the  men  landed  so  quickly  that  they  had  only  time  to  reverse 
one  of  their  guns  before  our  boys  were  on  them.  The  gun  was  double 
shotted  and  a  rebel  pulled  the  cord  to  fire  it,  but  it  missed,  when  a 
Lieutenant  shot  him  through  the  head.  If  the  gun  had  been  fired  it 
would  have  probably  killed  fifty  of  our  men."  "  The  first  one  of  our 
wounded  who  came  in  had  his  arm  shot  off  above  the  elbow.  He 
walked  along  without  help,  went  into  one  of  the  negro-houses,  and, 
sitting  down,  told  about  the  charge  as  unconcernedly  as  though  he  was 
not  wounded.  He  asked  one  of  the  darkie  women  how  old  she  was. 
She  replied,  '80  years  old;'  when  he  said,  'he  thought  she  was  a 
young  girl,  her  hair  curled  yet.'  Only  one,  I  believe,  was  shot 
dead.  The  next  day  we  marched  to  the  boat  landing,  and  embarked 
for  the  opposite  shore — landing  where  the  89th  did,  just  above  the 
Rebel  battery.  We  spent  most  of  the  day  in  throwing  up  rifle-pits 
and  batteries,  and  mounted  the  captured  guns  and  two  others.  Skir- 
mishers were  sent  out,  and  continued  firing  was  kept  up  all  day  between 
our  side  and  the  rebs.  William  Cassleman,  a  Vernon  boy,  was  shot 
in  the  leg  by  one  of  the  gray-backs,  the  ball  going  through  his  boot 
and  making  a  slight  flesh  wound."  "  The  table  in  one  house  was  all 
set,  and  it  was  evident  that  it  had  been  deserted  but  a  short  time. 
Furniture  was  destroyed,  pigs  shot,  etc.  At  dark  the  artil.ery  was 


A  SKETCH.  67 

put  on  hoard  gunboats  and  they  left  the  place,  brought  over  in  small 
boats  which  took  a  long  time,  and  landing  in  a  marsh,  they  reached 
their  camp  at  midnight,  wet  to  the  knees."  Mext  day  the  rebels  had 
the  battery  again,  but  did  not  mount  any  guns.  Kendall  was  not 
well  and  did  not  go  over.  Cattle,  pigs,  sheep,  calves,  etc.,  are  seized 
and  shot  or  bayoneted  these  days  for  use,  and  fence  wood  makes  fuel. 
Six  tent  together,  putting  two  tents  together  as  one  and  thus  increas- 
ing their  convenience.  On  the  29th  of  April,  Knox  is  sent  out  on 
picket  in  command  of  a  squad  of  fourteen.  "  Stiict  orders  to  keep 
a  sharp  lookout  over  the  river  and  to  report  anything  important." 
"  I  saw  some  rebs  were  near  the  houses  we  burnt,  but  they  did  not 
make  any  demonstrations.  Kendall  is  quite  sick,  and  is  moved  from 
camp  to  the  house  we  ransacked.  He's  improving  now,  but  is  not 
'  tough.' "  The  standing  order  just  then  is,  to  be  under  arms  from 
three  or  four  o'clock  till  daylight,  as  the  rebels  may  cross  the  river 
for  attack,  and  if  so,  will  probably  come  about  that  time.  "  In  the  after- 
noon of  Sunday  the  chaplain  preached  a  very  interesting  discourse,  the 
first  one  I  have  heard  from  him  since  we  separated."  On  Monday, 
Knox  is  detailed  with  fifty  men  under  him  to  build  a  wing  on  the 
battery.  The  paymaster  has  come  and  paid  them  off  in  the  night. 
Rebel  shells  come  in  on  each  side  of  camp.  On  Saturday  he  has  a 
pass  to  Suffolk,  and  dines  with  Eddie  Anderson  at  the  houseofasecesh 
who  inquired  "  who  that  Yankee  was,"  after  he  had  gone.  A  report 
comes  in  that  Gen.  Getty  has  crossed  the  Nansemond  with  20,000  men, 
and  is  diiving  the  rebels  before  him.  There  is  heavy  firing  on  Sunday, 
and  also  a  sermon  from  the  chaplain,  in  their  street.  A  reb  lieuten- 
ant and  sixteen  privates  are  marched  past  camp  captured  in  a  garret, 
from  which  they  wouldn't  come  down  till  they  were  smoked  out. 
Shortly  after  this  time,  in  May,  Longstreet  withdrew.  Gen.  Peck 
estimated  the  rebel  loss  during  the  seige  at  2,000.  The  Union  loss 
was  trifling.  "  The  woodticks  and  mosquitoes  are  a  great  nuisance, 
and  we  fear  them  more  than  all  the  rebels  we  have  seen  yet."  The 
troops  are  despondent  these  days  on  account  of  the  ill  news  from 
Hooker — •'  repulsed  with  great  Zoss,"  the  telegram  said,  at  Chancel- 
lorville.  The  month  afterwards  was  quiet  and  monotonous.  Long- 
street  had  withdrawn  from  the  Nansemond,  and  the  regiment  was 
occupied  with  fortifying  and  with  moving  camp  to  the  rear  of  Ports- 
mouth, six  or  eight  miles  south  of  Norfolk.  In  the  first  week  of  June 
he  makes  a  visit  to  his  Aunt  Cordelia  at  Suffolk,  "  who  was  as  natural 
as  ever."  The  25th  N.  J.  (nine-months  men)  broke  camp  (June  4th) 
with  many  cheers,  and  marched  to  Portsmouth  to  take  transports  for 


68  A  SKETCH. 

Baltimore  and  thence  by  railroad  to  be  mustered  out.  Capt.  Stone, 
of  Company  B,  with  thirty  or  forty  men,  makes  an  excursion  with 
two  days'  rations  in  haversacks,  to  impress  negroes  to  work  on  forti- 
fications, and  brings  in  about  one  hundred.  Picket  duty  and  pay- 
master's visit,  a  swim  in  the  Elizabeth  river,  the  restoration  of 
Capt.  Hoys  from  arrest  to  command,  and  his  welcome  with  cheers 
and  illumination,  etc.,  are  the  little  incidents  of  those  days  previous 
to  a  raid  into  the  enemy's  dominions.  For  this  raid,  an  important 
one,  the  orders  were  three  days'  rations  and  light  marching  order. 
On  Monday,  the  22d  June,  at  about  four  o'clock,  they  started  for  Ports- 
mouth and  embarked  on  the  boat  "  Hero,"  which  had  the  remarka- 
ble characteristic  of  cleanliness. !  The  direction  was  Yorktown, 
through  which  place,  after  landing,  they  marched,  and  encamped  out- 
side the  fort.  Here  he  saw  the  house  of  Washington's  Headquar- 
ters and  the  place  where  Cornwallis  surrendered.  All  the  Augusta 
boys  are  there  but  West,  who  is  too  unwell  to  come.  This  "  black- 
berry raid,"  as  the  boys  called  it,  from  the  abundance  of  blackberries 
on  the  route — was  intended  as  a  demonstration  on  Lee's  communica- 
tion with  Richmond  to  compel  Lee  to  hold  back  his  forces.  The 
whole  Norfolk  force  was  on  the  Yorktown  Peninsula,  for  Lee's  great 
army  was  in  excellent  spirits  after  the  defeats  of  Burnside  and  Hooker, 
and  was  passing  through  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  towards  Get- 
tysburg. These  mouths — June  and  July — were  the  most  stormy 
months  of  the  war.  At  Yorktown  the  regiment  remained  from  June 
22d  till  June  29th.  Grant  was  laying  seige  to  Vicksburg,  and  Banks 
to  Port  Hudson  on  the  Mississippi,  the  day  on  which  Gen.  Meade 
having  superseded  Hooker,  gathered  the  main  forces  at  Gettysburg 
for  battle  on  the  next  day.  The  117th  were  the  first  troops  which 
arrived  from  Yorktown  at  White  House  on  the  York  River,  from 
which  place  the  rebels  had  "  skedaddled  "  the  day  before.  Gen.  Wm. 
Fitzhugh  Lee  was  captured  by  the  llth  Penn.  on  a  furlough  u  at  his 
wife's  grandmother's  "  in  citizen's  clothes,  with  a  colonel  and  120 
privates,  and  sent  down  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  the  boys  hope  to 
take  a  Fourlh  of  July  dinner  in  Richmond.  Knox  says,  ''  1  will 
write  again  when  we  reach  Richmond,  which  we  shall  surely  do." 
Now  began  a  very  severe  and  rapid  march  to  Hanover  Court  House 
on  the  Virginia  Central  R.  R.,  one  of  Lee's  communications.  In  case 
the  expedition  should  fail  to  hold  a  goodly  number  of  Lee's  troops 
at  Richmond,  thereby  reducing  his  invading  army,  or  to  go  into 
Richmond  itself,  the  next  object  would  be  to  hasten  back  to  tide- 
water and  be  available  for  use  at  Washington  or  Philadelphia. 


A  SKETCH. 


Let  the  soldier  tell  his  own  story  of  these  seven  marches,  from  the 
1st  to  the  7th :  u  Our  regiment  started  out  at  8 — (two  other  brigades 
of  our  division  (Gettys1),  had  in  the  night  filed  past  us).  Every  man 


v 

v    /fan  over  \ 
\  junction. 


carrii  s  a  woolen  blanket,  a,  few  overcoats,  while  in  the  brigade  before 
us  many  had  knapsacks  loaded.     The  day  is  exceedingly  hot,  and 


70  A  SKETCH. 

before  we  had  gone  three  miles  I  could  have  picked  up  200  or  300 
blankets,  and  perhaps  50  overcoats.  I  threw  mine  as  soon  as  we 
crossed  the  river,  and  simply  carried  my  rubber  blanket  and  one-half 
a  shelter  tent.  "We  moved  through  Lanesville,  three  miles  distant,  to 
Jerusalem  church,  where  we  halted  at  two  p.  M.,  an  hour  for  coffee, 
and  afterwards  passed  through  King  William's  Court  House,  and 
camped  a  mile  to  the  north-east  in  a  nice  field' of  oats."  "  Sleeping 
soundly  till  two  the  next  morning,  we  were  on  the  march  before  sun- 
rise towards  Newcastle,  passing  a  sign-board  labeled  twenty-six  miles 
to  Richmond.  The  darkies  at  every  house  flocked  out  to  see  us — we 
made  quite  a  show — three  brigades  of  infantry,  three  six  gun  bat- 
teries, four  or  five  companies  of  cavalry,  followed  by  a  line  of  wag- 
ons a  mile  in  length.  Shortly  after  noon  we  halted  a  few  moments 
in  front  of  the  splendid  mansion  of  Col.  Fontain,  who,  the  nigs  said, 
had  left  with  his  family  the  day  before.  House  and  furniture  were 
made  a  perfect  wreck  in  a  shorter  time  than  I  take  to  tell  it.  About 
a  mile  from  this  place  we  camped  in  a  cornfield,  which  the  boys 
pulled  up  for  beds  (as  they  had  wheat  and  oat  straw  the  night  before.) 
The  next  morning,  at  eight,  we  moved  on  till  noon  and  stopped  near 
a  large  flouring  mill  for  dinner.  Near  by  was  an  ice  house  ;  many  of 
the  boys  broke  up  the  ice  fine  enough  to  put  in  their  canteens.  After 
we  left  the  mill  two  or  three  miles  in  the  rear,  a  long  halt  came, 
then  a  forced  march  till  half  past  ten  without  a  mouthful  to  eat. 
This  was  the  longest  and  fastest  march  that  we  had,  and  the  number 
of  stragglers  was  large,  the  last  three  miles  of  the  roadside  be:ng 
lined  with  those  who  had  fallen  out.  With  great  exertion,  I  remained 
in  the  ranks  and  went  through  with  the  company,  though  four  of  our 
Augusta  boys  were  un  ible  to  stand  it!  The  next  morning  was  the 
glorious  Fourth, — the  day  on  which  came  the  news  of  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg  and  the  victory  at  Gettysburg,  and  on  which  Governor  Sey- 
mour stood  in  the  Academy  of  Music  in  New  York  delivering  his  pol- 
ished indictmenta^«ms(  the  Union  and  our  brave  boys  in  the  field — 
and  was  celebrated  in  rather  a  different  manner  fr  m  that  day  last 
year.  We  arose  just  as  the  sun  began  to  shine,  and  after  roll-call  I 
wmt  out,  and  after  eating  lots,  brought  in  a  quart  of  blackberries  for 
breakfast,  which  being  dispatched,  we  fell  in  and  proceeded  to  Han- 
over church  over  the  Pamunky,  leaving  everything  behind  us  except 
our  arms.  After  mnking  our  coffee  by  the  wayside,  and  stuffing  our- 
selves with  blackberries,  our  brigade  being  held  as  a  reserve,  went 
on  picket,  while  the  other  two  brigades  continued  on  to  Hanover 
Junction  (where  the  two  rail  roads  cross — t'le  Virginia  Central  and 


A  SKETCH.  71 

tLe  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg),  also  a  battery  of  field  artillery. 
Here  they  found  the  rebs  strongly  fortified,  having  seige  guns  planted, 
and  were  opened  on  by  then,  but  the  range  was  not  accurate  enough 
to  do  any  execution.  Our  company  were  posted  along  the  rail  road 
running  from  Richmond  to  the  Junction.  I  occupied  a  central  post 
and  had  an  opportunity  to  sleep  part  of  the  night,  but  was  rather 
restless  at  first;  being  very  much  fatigued  I  lay  down  on  a  wide  tie, 
crossways  of  the  track,  using  one  of  the  rails  for  my  pillow,  and  with- 
out any  covering  slept  well  till  towards  morning  "  Here  they  were  able 
to  accomplish  nothing.  The  expedition  was  not  intended  to  be 
strong  enough  to  construct  seige  fortifications.  And  next  day  they 
started  on  a  rapid  and  terrible  march  in  retreat,  in  which  on  halting, 
not  more  than  ten  per  cent,  were  able  to  stack  arms,  and  which  our 
soldier  thus  describes :  "  At  dawn  we  were  called  in,  and  after  a 
hasty  breakfast,  began  to  retreat — the  other  brigades  having  gone 
before  us.  As  we  cams  to  the  bridge  over  the  Pamunky  we  found  it 
all  reidy  to  fire,  being  piled  along  each  side  with  dry  material. 
Here  we  saw  the  wounded  and  a  few  prisoners.  From  thence  we 
made  a  very  rapid  march  of  five  or  six  miles — the  sun  being  very 
hot — when  we  bivouacked  and  waited  till  six  o'clock,  then  were  on 
the  move  again  and  marched  till  two  A.  M.  the  next  morning,  making 
some  seventeen  miles  and  arriving  at  Aylettes,  which  place  had  been 
burned  by  the  cavalry  and  presented  a  doleful  appearance.  This  was 
the  hardest  march  of  all.  I  led  the  company — the  orderly  having 
given  out  in  the  morning — and  I  came  in  at  the  head,  though  we 
had  only  thirteen  men  in  the  ranks  when  we  came  to  stack  arms, 
Lindsley  and  myself  being  the  only  ones  from  our  squad.  I  s'ept 
under  a  tree  till  morning,  and  after  breakfast  came  nine  miles  to 
King  William's  Court  House  and  bivouacked,  it  raining  hard  mean- 
while, and  we  without  any  shelter — not  having  received  our  things 
yet,  though  they  came  soon,  and  we  pitched  our  shelters  and  slept 
soundly  till  morning. 

"  7th. — After  a  five  o'clock  breakfast  we  started  once  more  and  came 
back  to  the  White  House,  arriving  at  ten  o'clock  and  camping  on  our 
old  ground,  hoping  to  remain  a  day  or  two  to  rest  and  then  take 
transports  to  Portsmouth,  but  no  such  good  luck  was  in  store  f«r  us, 
for  it  was  soon  rumored  that  we  would  have  to  march  at  least  as  far 
as  Yorktown,  which  report  soon  obtained  credence  from  the  fact  of 
the  sick  being  transferred  to  the  Hospital  Steamer ."  John  Brooks.'' 
Sure  enough  at  two  A.  M.  the  next  morning  the  drum  sounded,  and 
we  prepared  our  coffee  and  were  soon  ready  to  go — but  did  not  till 


72  A   SKETCH. 

nine  o'clock,  when  we  came  to  New  Kent  over  the  most  horrid  roads  I 
ever  saw  in  my  life.  Artillery  got  mixed,  baggage  wagons  were  in  mud 
up  to  the  axle-trees,  several  were  bioken  and  left  behind,  being  de- 
s.royed  before.  At  New  Kent  it  rained  for  an  hour  in  torrents,  and 
we  got  a  good  drenching  ;  afterwards  we  came  three  miles  and  camped 
for  the  night,  but  were  off  again  the  next  morning,  going  five  miles 
and  halting  for  coffee.  The  morning  was  very  warm  and  we  marched 
very  fast,  besides  our  hard-tack  had  nearly  all  been  eaten,  and  we 
were  rather  hungry,  with  no  prospect  of  drawing  any  rations  till  the 
next  day.  Some  of  the  boys  came  across  two  good  fat  three-year- 
olds,  and  asked  Col.  White  if  they  might  drive  them  on  and  butcher 
them  at  night ;  he  replied,  '  Yes,  and  all  others  you  come  up  with  ' 
In  the  course  of  half  an  hour  we  had  a  drove  of  a  dozen  or  more 
good  fat  steers,  when  Col.  Alford  in  command  of  the  brigade,  rode  up 
and  ordered  them  to  be  left.  We  camped  at  sun-down  near  a  berry 
field,  and  had  berries  and  coffee  for  supper. 

"  Wth. — Tip  early  and  marched  three  miles  without  any  breakfast 
to  near  Williamsburg,  where  we  received  fresh  meat  and  hard-tack. 
As  soon  as  our  repast  was  over  we  moved  through  Williamsburg, 
which  is  an  old  dilapidated  town  of  considerable  size.  I  noticed 
very  few  buildings  that  were  modern  at  all  in  their  structure  and  only 
one  that  I  would  care  to  live  in  even  if  it  were  situated  in  New  York 
State.  The  place  seemed  to  be  inhabited  almost  entirely  by  contra- 
bands, though  now  and  then  a  white  face  appeared  among  the  throng 
that  turned  out  as  we  marched  through.  About  a  mile  outside  we 
saw  the  fortifications,  and  here  and  there  kicked  a  solid  shot  or  un- 
exploded  shell  as  we  passed  along.  Halting  at  twelve  o'clock  we 
rested  three  hours,  and  then  came  to  Yorktown,  arriving  at  about 
sunset.  The  day  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  the  officers  did  not 
seem  to  exercise  any  degree  of  judgment  in  marching  the  men.  I 
was  for  once  obliged  to  fall  out  when  only  a  mile  or  two  from  the 
town. 

"  llth. — We  laid  in  camp  to-day  and  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  a  salt 
water  bath  in  the  river,  which  was  quite  refreshing  after  a  long,  dusty 
march.  Sunday  morning  we  were  up  at  three  and  a  half,  and  im- 
mediately after  breakfast  began  to  move,  coming  fifteen  miles  to  Big 
Bethel.  This  is  the  place  where  the  3rd  N.  Y.  had  tht-ir  skirmish 
soon  after  they  came  out.  The  old  reb  earthworks  still  remain.  The 
march  of  this  day  was  a  hot  and  fatiguing  one,  and  I  was  hungry 
enough,  having  had  only  a  slice  of  bread  and  cup  of  coffee  for  break- 
fast. We  left  Robbins  at  Yorktown  to  go  on  board  a  transport. 


A  SKETCH.  73 

Now  we  coine  to  our  last  day's  march  ;  coming  to  Hampton  and  pitch- 
ing our  tents  expecting  to  remain  over  night  and  return  to  our  old 
camp  the  next  day.  The  officers  all  understood  it  so,  and  many  of 
them  were  away  from  camp  when  an  order  came  for  the  regiment  to 
be  prepared  to  move  in  half  an  hour.  I  was  off  eating  warm  biscuit 
and  drinking  coffee,  but  chanced  to  return  to  camp  just  in  time  to  find 
the  tents  all  struck  and  the  regiment  ready  to  start.  I  was  ordered 
to  take  charge  of  our  company,  no  commissioned  officers  being  pres- 
ent, and  therefore  did  so,  the  boys  calling  me  'Captain  Williams.' 
Capt.  Roys  came  down  to  the  dock  just  in  time  to  get  on  board  the 
boat  after  we  were  all  on,  but  Col.  White  was  not  so  fortunate ;  riding 
up  after  the  boat  had  swung  off  from  the  dock  he  was  unable  to  get 
on  board,  and  seemed  quite  chagrined  at  it.  We  arrived  at  Ports- 
mouth at  about  ten  o'clock,  and  disembarking,  marched  at  once  to 
our  old  camp,  coming  in  in  good  spirits  amid  rousing  cheers  from  the 
boys.  We  found  our  camp  just  as  we  left  it,  with  our  bunks  all 
ready  to  turn  into,  which  we  did  with  a  hearty  good  will,  only  one 
thing  tending  to  mar  our  enjoyment.  Frank  M.  West,  whom  we  left 
behind  slightly  ill,  had  died  during  the  interval  of  typhoid  fever  at 
Portsmouth.  He  was  a  good  soldier,  and  little  did  we  think  but 
that  he  would  join  us  again  on  our  return.  His  death  cast  a  gloom 
over  the  whole  company.  He  died  the  6th,  not  being  conscious  dur- 
•  ing  the  last  week  of  his  sickness.  As  to  the  object  of  our  expedi- 
tion— you  have  no  doubt  learned  that  from  the  papers,  viz. :  to  destroy 
a  couple  of  bridges  over  the  South  Anna  River— which  we  did  not 
accomplish  for  to  us  some  unknown  reason.  The  fruits  of  the  expe- 
dition amounted  to  perhaps  twenty  prisoners,  two  being  taken  by 
the  117th ;  a  hundred  or  more  horses  and  mules,  the  same  number 
of  cattle,  besides  bringing  in  with  us  a  hundred  or  more  contrabands. 
This  wonderful  feat  was  accomplished  by  three  brigades  of  infantry, 
three  batteries  of  artillery,  and  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  reminds 
one  of  the  old  couplet, 

"  The  King  of  France  with  thrice  ten  thousand  men, 
Marched  up  the  hill,  and  then  marched  down  again." 

"  In  all,  we  marched  two  hundred  miles  during  the  thirteen  days, 
making  only  one  halt  of  twenty-four  hours,  which  left  us  an  average 
of  sixteen  and  two-thirds  miles  each  day,  the  longest  day's  march 
being  from  twenty-six  to  twenty-nine  miles.  I  am  still  acting  First 
Sergeant,  and  am  kept  somewhat  busy  by  my  duties.  We  have  not 
had  our  rations  since  we  came  back,  at  kast  only  in  part.  No  bread 


74  A  SKETCH. 

for  three  days  ;  the  boys  are  getting  rather  out  of  patience  and 
threaten  a  bread  riot  if  not  supplied  soon.  We  are  rejoicing  over  our 
recent  victories,  and  am  glad  that  there  is  a  prospect  of  the  draft 
being  enforced.  I  hope  that  it  will  be  carried  on,  even  if  it  costs  the 
destruction  of  every  building  in  New  York  City.  The  rumor  is  that 
our  regiment  is  to  be  filled  up  from  the  drafted  men.  I  am  well." 

This  letter  concludes  with  the  llth  of  July.  The  very  next  day 
the  terrible  riot  began  in  New  York,  during  which  Governor  Seymour 
thought  it  a  good  thing  to  pledge  the  rioters  that  the  enforcement  of 
the  law  should  be  submissive  to  the  enforcement  of  the  mob's  will. 
Depression  and  discouragement  were  the  result  in  the  117th  as  else- 
where. "  The  feeling  thus  excited,"  says  the  surgeon  of  the  regi- 
ment, "  were  sorrow  that  our  State  should  be  so  disgraced,  a  painful 
distrust  and  apprehension,  and  a  just  and  intense  indignation  at  the 
audacity  of  Northern  rebels,  with  expressed  wishes  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  fight  them."  This  feeling  of  discontent  was  soon  relieved 
by  the  order  to  march.  Where  ?  North  or  South  ?  Morris  Island, 
below  Charleston,  S.  C. — from  which  place,  Knox  just  then  had  a 
letter  from  his  cousin  Kirk  Talcott,  lying  in  range  of  the  guns  of 
Sumpter — has  just  been  captured  and  occupied  by  Gen.  Gilmore. 
Thither,  rumor  says.  After  a  couple  of  days  and  nights  of  bivouac 
in  the  streets  of  Portsmouth,  under  pouring  rain  and  pouring  sun, 
the  transports  arrive,  and  with  the  regiment  turning  their  heads  past 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  thence  seaward,  turn  the  rumor  info  probability. 
Two  lieutenancies  are  vacant,  and  Knox  looks  for  promotion.  Tommy 
Barton  is  quite  sick;  about  to  telegraph  for  his  mother.  "1  am 
sound.  It  is  awful  hot."  Miller  too  is  sick,  and  his  father  has 
arrived,  for  the  forced  marches  and  fatigues  of  the  Peninsula  Raid 
were  the  cause  of  much  sickness.  Bobbins  and  Miller  were  left  in 
hospital  at  Portsmouth,  sick  with  typhoid  fever.  Kendall  remained 
to  give  care  to  Miller,  who  was  delirious. 

IV.  FOLLY  ISLAND. 

After  a  vast  amount  of  interml  dissension  and  irrepressible  con- 
flict, arising  either  from  questions  of  conscience  or  of  stomach,  and 
an  escape  from  an  unseaworthy  transport  at  Beaufort  Harbor,  N.  C., 
to  a  more  substantial  and  capacious  vessel,  and  an  eager  anxiety  to 
arrive  soon  enough  to  participate  in  the  capture  of  Charleston,  the 
palmettos  came  into  view,  on  the  2d  of  August,  and  the  artillery 
began  to  break  on  the  ear.  The  great  artillery  duel,  which  hardly 


A  SKETCH. 


75 


ceased  for  half  a  year,  and  which  they  had  come  to  assist,  was  'in 
progress  as  they  steamed  in'o  the  harbor.  The  rebels  on  Morris 
Island,  Forts  W  signer,  Sumpter,  and  Moultrie,  the  monitors,  the  rebel 
batteries  of  James  Island,  all  excited  the  attention  of  the  men  as 
they  lay  off  the  land.  The  next  day  they  landed  on  Folly  Island,  the 
very  day  (Aug.  3d)  th;it  poor  Miller  died  at  Portsmouth. 


Nor  was  the  regiment  in  good  health.  Their  duties  were  heavy? 
and  began  the  very  day  on  which  they  debarked.  Often  a  hundred 
were  present  at  sick-call — ague,  fever,  a  little  later,  scurvy,  and  home- 
sickness prevailed.  The  spirits  too  of  those  well  were  lifeless. 
Laughter  and  games  were  little  cared  for,  and  the  troops  were  in  con- 
trast with  their  condition  at  Camp  Morris,  D.  C.  The  percentage  of 
death  from  sickness,  however,  in  the  117th,  was  lower  than  in  the  other 
regiment.  Here  the  regiment  remained,  now  on  Folly  Island,  now  on 
Morris  Island,  now  on  Block  Island,  now  in  an  expedition  against 


76  A   SKETCH. 

Charleston  by  way  of  James  Island,  f.  om  Aug.  2,  1868,  to  April  20, 
1864.  The  following  map,  a  sketch  in  one  of  his  letters,  shows  the 
situation. 


OCEAN 

2.  This  tide  of  Sampler  i»  a  mats  of  ruins. 


Their  camp  was  now  established  on  Folly  Island  four  or  five  rods 
from  the  shore,  where  they  had  the  advantage  of  the  breeze,  but 
their  work  was  on  Morris  Island.  About  4,000  men  went  over  to 
Morris  Island,  and  at  dusk  marched  into  the  trenches  under  the  fire 
of  Fort  Johnson  on  James  Island  two  miles  distant,  which  was  throw- 
ing ten-inch  mortar  shells  on  our  troops,  beginning  every  night  at 
dusk  and  keeping  up  the  fire  till  daylight.  The  shells  came  at  the 
rate  of  six  an  hour.  There  was  a  large  working  party  erecting  seige 
fortifications  against  rebel  Fort  Wagner  at  the  end  of  Mo.ris  Is'and, 
and  the  117th  were  held  as  a  reserve  to  protect  this  beseiging  party. 
They  were  to  sleep  under  arms.  "  For  a  while,''  say's  Knox,  "  I 
watched  the  shells  as  they  came  over  from  Fort  Johnson,  looking  like 
a  huge  ball  of  fire  thrown  high  in  air,  dodging  into  one  of  the  dug- 
outs every  time  I  thought  there  was  any  danger.  I  could  calculate 
very  nearly  the  spot  where  they  would  burst,  so  that  it  was  not  nec- 
essary to  cover  for  every  one.  After  a  while  it  became  an  old  story 
and  afforded  no  excitement,  so  I  wrapped  my  blanket  around  me  and 
slept  till  morning."  "  Our  fortifications,"  he  says,  "  are  all  constructed 
of  sand-bags,  and  are  being  extended  every  night,  it  being  imprac- 
ticable to  work  during  the  day  on  account  of  the  sharp-shooters  in 
Fort  Wagner,  which  is  only  five  hundred  yards  distant,  and  being  on 


A   SKETCH.  77 

high  ground  affords  them  a  fine  range  to  pick  off  any  man  that  shows 
himself  above  the  sand  bags.  All  day  long  we  lay  in  those  trenches 
in  the  sand  under  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun,  protecting  ourselves 
as  best  we  could  by  stretching  our  rubber  blankets  over  our  guns. 
From  our  po-ition  I  could  see  plainly  Forts  Sumpter  and  Moultrie, 
Castle  Pinckney,  the  Moultrie  House,  Charleston,  and  our  own  mon- 
itors lying  off  in  the  harbor  looking  like  mere  dots  0:1  the  water.  I 
have  said  that  we  were  only  500  yards  from  Wagner,  while  Sumpter 
loomed  up  at  a  distance  of  two  miles,  but  still  we  could  see  her  guns 
looking  over  the  parapet.  Wagner  is  completely  silenced,  not  a  gun 
being  in  sight,  our  sharp-shooters  keeping  their  eyes  on  the  port- 
holes and  the  moment  a  man  appears,  pick  him  off.  We  are  mount- 
ing some  very  heavy  guns,  100, 200,  and  300-pound  Parrotts  every  night 
bearing  directly  on  Sumpter,  while  we  have  any  quantity  of  16,  20,  and 
30 pounders,  besides  field-pieces,  mortars,  and  one  of  the  celebrated 
mosquito  batteries,  in  direct  range  of  Wagner.  These  are  all  as  yet 
covered,  and  it  is  not  the  intention  of  our  folks  to  lettherebs  know  that 
we  have  any  guns  of  so  large  a  calibre  until  the  ball  begins.  The  inten- 
tion is  to  breach  Sumpter  with  the  large  guns,  while  those  of  the  smaller 
calibre  attend  to  Wagner  and  other  surrounding  batteries.  Sumpter 
must  fall,  though  not  without  hard  work,  and  when  the  conflict  once 
begins,  the  world  will  have  never  witnessed  an  artillery  duel  of  such 
magnitude.  During  the  afternoon  one  of  our  gunboats  threw  six  or 
seven  shells  directly  into  Wagner,  the  ditt  flying  thirty  feet  into  the 
air  when  they  exploded.  Sumpter  also  opened  a  gun  or  two  on  us, 
but  without  the  least  effect,  as  far  as  I  coukl  learn.  Soon  after  dark 
we  were  relieved,  and  on  my  way  down  I  met  Kirk  (to  whom  I  had 
sent  word  at  noon  by  a  corporal  of  tl/e  engineer  corps  that  I  was  on 
the  island).  He  came  along  as  far  as  the  landing  with  me,  and  as  we 
were  delayed  half  an  hour  there  waiting  for  the  ferry-boat,  we  had 
quite  a  visit,  and  I  learned  many  things  in  respect  to  the  fortifications 
and  their  design  that  I  did  not  know  before.  Returning,  we  reached 
the  camp  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  where  we  found  a  nice 
lot  of  hot  coffee  awaiting  us,  of  which  we  drank  what  we  wanted 
and  turned  in.  Since,  we  have  been  resting.  This  afternoon  a  detail 
came  for  300  men  with  24  hours'  rations  to  the  same  place  again,  and 
I  have  been  busy  making  the  detail  from  our  company.''  The  army 
biscuit  are  mouldy  and  full  of  worms ;  the  beans  half  the  time 
mouldy,  and  no  fruit ;  the  water  is  poor,  the  color  of  brandy,  and  does 
not  make  good  tea  or  coffee.  "  I  have  gone  whole  days  eating  only 
one  or  two  hard-tack  and  a  cup  of  tea  a  day."  On  Monday  morning, 


78  A  SKETCH. 

the  17th  Aug.,  the  Union  batteries  opened  at  two  o'clock,  and  the 
bombardment  of  Fort  Sumpter  began.  "  The  gunboats  and  monitors 
poured  shot  and  shell  into  Wagner  until  they  were  satisfied,  and  then 
withdrew.  Wagner  replied  feebly  from  her  water  batteries,  killing 
one  of  our  captains  on  the  monitor  fleet,  but  otherwise  doing  no 
damage.  Her  guns  towards  our  fortifications  are  about  silent,  one  of 
which  only  opens  occasionally.  Tuesday  evening  a  high  wind  sprung 
up,  blowing  hard  and  cold,  so  that  the  next  day  the  monitors  could 
not  work  their  guns  on  account  of  the  roll  of  the  sea,  but  I  could 
hear  the  200  pounders  on  land  pounding  away  all  day  long,  and  at 
sunset  Wednesday  evening  the  boys  returned,  dirty,  tired,  and  hun- 
gry, having  lain  in  the  sand  three  weary  days.  One  of  our  boys  who 
has  been  up  on  the  other  island,  reports  that  Sumpter  is  breached, 
and  has  fired  only  two  guns  since  yesterday  morning.  Last  night 
the  rebs  made  an  attack  on  our  works,  coining  out  from  Wagner;  they 
proceeded  towards  our  rifle-pits,  but  soon  met  an  obstruction  in  the 
shape  of  a  horizontal  net-work  of  strong  wire  erected  about  ten 
inches  from  the  ground.  They  became  entangled  in  this  net  work, 
and  our  batteries  poured  grape  and  canister  in  upon  them  until  they 
retreated  faster  than  they  came,  and  I  think  will  not  be  hasty  in 
repeating  the  experiment  of  charging  on  our  works.  I  learn  from 
Lieut.  II.  that  hardly  anything  is  doing  in  other  departments,  and 
that  all  eyes  are  turned  in  this  direction.  Charleston  must  fall, 
though  it  will  be  weeks  and  perhaps  months  yet.  One  year  ago  to- 
day we  left  home,  and  to-day  finds  us  many  hundred  miles  from 
home,  and  the  rebellion  st  11  unconquered,  but  we  do  not  lose  our 
faith  nor  despair  of  seeing  the  end  before  long."  On  the  24th  of 
August,  300  men  were  detailed  to  go  on  fatigue  and  picket  duty  at 
Block  Island.  "At  four  p.  M.  we  were  in  line,  having  drawn  our  ra- 
tions for  six  days,  and  marching  to  Morris  Island  we  were  detained 
some  two  hours  before  we  could  get  boats  to  go  up  in,  having  to  go 
through  the  usual  red  tape  system  of  military,  and  telegraph  to  Gen. 
Gilmore's  Headquarters.  At  last  we  procured  them,  and  selecting 
oarsmen  from  the  different  companies,  embarked  25  to  30  men  in  each 
boat  and  shoved  oif  into  the  stream  under  the  silver  rays  of  the  moon, 
and  winding  our  way  among  the  vessels  anchored  there,  we  came  to 
the  stream  leading  through  the  marsh  to  our  destination.  A  large 
scow  led  us,  loaded  with  two  30-pound  Parrotts,  intended  for  the  bat- 
teries there.  Our  boat  lost  some  and  we  floated  out  on  a  side  stream 
and  came  very  near  going  down  to  Secessionville  among  the  Rebel  pick- 
ets. As  soon  as  we  found  out  our  rather  dangerous  position,  we  turned 


A   SKETCH.  79 

about,  and  getting  into  the  right  channel  came  to  Block  Island,  and 
landed  in  the  mud  ankle  deep  at  about  twelve  o'clock.  Going  ashore 
through  the  marsh  six  or  eight  rods  wide,  we  looked  about  for  a  place 
to  sleep.  Lindsley  and  I  spread  our  blankets  in  a  little  hollow,  it 
raining  by  this  time  slightly,  and  had  not  much  more  than  lain  down, 
than  the  clouds  opened  afresh  and  it  fairly  poured.  The  water 
drowned  us  out  of  the  hollow.  I  placed  my  cartridge  box  under  me 
in  a  dry  place  for  a  seat,  and  drawing  my  rubber  blanket  over  my 
head,  dozed  away  till  daylight,  while  Lindsley  stretched  himself 
out  on  a  wood  pile  and  made  himself  as  miserable  as  he  could.  In 
that  hollow  the  next  morning  I  noticed  the  water  was  six  inches  deep, 
a  good  soft,  but  rather  moist  bed.  The  day  passed  away  and  we  were 
kept  busy  drying  our  things  and  pitching  our  shelters,  which  the  next 
morning  (26th)  we  had  to  move  to  another  place.  This  day  we  be- 
gan to  fortify  ourselves  by  digging  us  a  boom-proof  as  a  protection 
from  the  batteries  on  James  Island,  just  across  from  us,  if  they  should 
chance  to  open.  At  evening  we  witnessed  some  very  sharp  firing 
from  our  batteries  opposite  Wagner,  and  the  next  day  our  signal  corps 
received  a  dispatch  saying  that  our  forces  had  taken  from  the  enemy 
their  last  rifle-pit  outside  of  Wagner,  and  captured  eighty  prisoners. 
In  the  afternoon  I  borrowed  the  captain's  field  glass  and  reconnoi- 
tered  a  little,  getting  a  good  view  of  Secessionville,  the  reb's  bat- 
teries on  James  Island  and  Fort  Sumpter.  The  28th  passed  away 
without  anything  important  happening,  if  I  may  except  that  Linds- 
ley and  I  went  out  and  brought  in  a  bushel  of  nice  oysters,  which  are 
to  be  found  by  the  ship  load  along  the  banks  of  the  inlets  around 
Charleston.  We  had  oysters  stewed,  fried,  roasted,  raw,  and,  in  fact, 
in  almost  every  style.  Kendall  came  in  from  Portsmouth  looking  fat 
and  hearty,  but  I  think  a  month  of  fatigue  and  picket  duty  in  the 
water  and  mud  up  to  one's  middle,  will  reduce  his  avoirdupois.  The 
29th  was  very  quiet  indeed,  hardly  a  gun  disturbing  the  silence  until 
towards  evening,  when  six  shells  from  James  Island  came  whizzing 
through  the  air  and  plowed  up  the  earth  some  few  rods  in  the  rear 
of  our  companies'  tents.  Kobody  was  hurt,  however,  and  I  do  not 
think  they  scared  anyone  either.  I  know  I  was  breaking  up  some 
"  hard-tack,"  picking  out  the  worms,  and  preparing  them  to  fry  for 
supper,  and  paid  no  more  attention  to  the  shells  than  I  would  to  a 
little  boy  throwing  peas.  One  very  soon  gets  accustomed  to  the 
sound,  and  can  tell  about  where  they  are  going  to  strike.  Sunday 
morning  was  pleasant  and  cool.  The  mosquitoes  bit  awfully  last 
night  and  kept  half  the  camp  up  most  of  the  night.  The  captain 


80  A  SKETCH. 

and  I  came  down  to  the  camp  and  witnessed  on  our  way  down  an 
hour's  bombardment  of  Sumpter.  Our  guns  had  been  quite  silent 
for  several  days,  being  rather  short  of  ammunition,  but  t\vo  steamer 
loads  came  in  a  day  or  two  before,  and  the  heavy  batteries  opened 
anew,  causing  the  stone  and  brick  dust  to  fly  from  Sumpter's  walls  in 
perfect  clouds.  For  the  last  three  days  the  firing  has  been  kept  up 
almost  incessantly,  but  to-day  the  guns  are  again  silent.  I  wish  we 
were  up  on  Block  Island  again,  for  there  we  could  catch  a  glimpse  of 
what  was  going  on,  while  here  we  see  nothing  but  the  dashing  waves 
and  the  ships  out  at  sea.  Our  weather  for  a  week  or  ten  days  has  been 
quite  cool,  and  sleeping  under  a  good  thick  woolen  blanket  I  do  not 
find  at  all  uncomfortable.  While  on  Block  Island  we  were  at  work 
erecting  a  battery  bearing  directly  on  Charleston,  and  to  draw  the 
attention  of  the  batteries  on  James  Island,  put  up  one  night  out  in 
the  marsh  a  sham  battery  of  boards  covered  over  with  turf.  This 
they  opened  on  and  kept  up  a  continued  fire  at,  while  we  only  a  few 
yards  from  it  were  planting  heavy  seige  guns.  From  the  island  we 
could  get  an  unobstructed  view  of  Fort  Sumpter.  I  had  a  good  glass, 
and  can  truly  say  that  the  side  towards  our  Morris  Island  batteries 
is  a  complete  mass  of  brick,  stone,  and  sand,  knocked  hither  and 
thither  by  our  shells.  She  opens  only  one  gun  at  all,  and  that  only 
now  and  then  by  watching  her  chances.  Sumpter  is  powerless  now  ; 
and  Wagner  we  will  soon  have,  and  then  inch  by  inch  to  Charleston ; 
all  that  is  wanted  is  time.  Everybody  seems  to  have  faith  in  Gilrnore 
and  the  big  guns.  The  last  mail  brought  me  no  papers ;  they  are 
doubly  interesting  here,  and  you  must  not  forget  to  mail  one  novr 
and  then."  On  Sept.  13th,  they  were  made  thrice  happy.  The  pay- 
master had  come,  a  box  for  his  chum  from  home — and  he  had  a  piece 
of  cake  fresh  from  Oneida  county — and  a  full  mail.  Vegetables  and 
fruit  have  been  so  scarce,  that  the  hungry  soldiers  are  raving  for  pay 
and  for  the  sutler's  tent.  Fort  Wagner  meanwhile  had  fallen,  and  a 
detail  of  men  from  the  regiment,  among  them,  Knox,  Kendall,  and  Rob- 
bins  (just  returned),  went  np  and  lay  in  the  fort  one  night.  Batteries  are 
being  erected  on  the  tent  end  of  Morris  Island,  and  are  expected  to  make 
short  work  of  Fort  Moultrie  and  the  other  batteries  on  Sullivan 
Island.  He  sees  no  signs  yet  of  being  present  at  the  Golden  Wed- 
ding. Thanks,  however,  to  an  allotment,  he  gains  a  furlough  for  a 
month  or  six  weeks,  attending  with  us  the  Golden  Wedding,  contrib- 
uting to  our  satisfaction  and  pleasure,  by  the  evident  growth  of  phys- 
ique and  character  to  which  he  had  attained.  Still  his  health  had 
been  affected,  and  his  usual  ambition  was  not  quite  so  firm  as  before. 


A  SKETCH.  81 

Having  contributed  his  share  to  these  glad  festivities  and  paid  visits 
to  his  friends  in  Oneida  Co.,  he  hastened  back  to  New  York  on  the 
16th  Get,  in  company -with  Capt.  Brigham,  the  major,  etc.,  detained  six 
houis  near  Hudson,  by  an  accident  in  which  engine,  tender,  and  bag- 
gage car  were  piled  up  in  the  water  at  the  foot  of  an  emba-iktnent, 
and  every  car  but  his  own,  the  last  one,  off  the  track.     Wonderful  to 
tell,  no  one  was  hurt.     Finding  Aunt  Cordelia  and  family  at  No.  3 
Hamilton  Place,  and  seeing  the  sights  in  New  York,  he  sailed  on  the 
"  Arago  "  on  the  20th  of  November,  for  Hilton  Head.     He  confesses  he 
could  not  help  feeling  a  little  homesick,  when  he  could  get  no  state- 
room, and  after  seeing  as  the  last  thing  Ed.  Anderson  on  a  high  post 
at  the  end  of  the  pier,  he  then  turned  in  on  the  bare  boards,  the  poor, 
brave  boy !     Sunday  on  board  he  could  not  but  contrast  with  the 
Sabbath  of  the  week  before.     Fifty  head  of  cattle  were  on  board, 
ami  a  schooner  in  tow  loaded  with  cattle  and  hay.     On  reaching  Folly 
Island,  two  days  before  Thanksgiving,  he  found  quite  a  change — new 
tents,  the  camp  yard  levelled  and  cleaned,  the  squad  with  two  tents 
tog.  tin T,  a  good  floor,  and  a  fine  stove  with  an  oven  ;  the  men  looking 
more  healthy  and  not  quite  so  agreeable,  himself  choused  out  of  the 
office  of  first  sergeant  by  the  action  of  a  new  lieutenant.     However, 
he  is  willing  to  appeal  by  force  of  character  for  justice.     "  Keep  up 
grod  cheer,'1  he  writes;  "  may  God  bless  us  all  and  bring  us  together 
aga  n  is  :v.y  earnest  prayer."     Col.  Pease  too  has  resigned,  his  resigna- 
tion reaching  the  camp,  it  may  be,  before  Knox  departed  in  Septem- 
ber.    Indeed  he  had  not  gone  south  at  all  with  the  regiment.     Heart 
di>  ase  had  prevented  his  full  service,  though  to  most  of  the  regi- 
ments always  an  acceptable  office.     Lieut.-Col.  Alvin  White  was  in 
command.     Thanksgiving  on  the  26th,  was  celebrated  in  camp,  near- 
ly the  entire  117th  regiment  coming  to  hear  Chaplain  Crippen's  patri- 
otic and  religious  discourse,  the  drum  corp*,  the  brigade  band,  the 
vocal  choir,  rivalling  each  other  in  mu-;ic,  and  all  joining  in  the  grand 
old  h\  mn,  u  My  country,  'tis  of  thee."     The   squad   had   dinner   of 
stewed  beef,  potatoes,  and  tea,  and  Knox  thought  of  the  roast  tuikey, 
chickens,  etc.,  of  the  table  at  Rome,  where  his  father  and  mother  cele- 
brated the  day.     "  Lindsley  got  up  a  very  good  dumpling  for  dinner, 
with  bread  and  apples  cut  up  and  boiled  together  in  a  bag,  with  a 
sauce  of  sugar,  water,  and  flour,  seasoned  with  spice."     Beach  and 
Lindsley  have  been  exempt  a  week  from  s<  re  throat.     Gray,  King, 
and  Kendall,  who  went  out  to  the  Long  I  land  on  picket  duty  for  five 
days,  have  been  gone  three  or  four  weeks,  and  have  not  yet  been 
relieved.     He  admits  that  the  good  things  at  home  have  spoiled  him 


83  A   SKETCH. 

for  a  soldier's  life  for  a  little  time,  and  he  cannot  bear  the  thought  of 
being  sick  again  so  far  from  home.  He  feels  more  the  impo:tance  of 
living  each  day  a  Christian  life,  responds  to  his  mother's  suggestion 
that  ''  we  study  the  Bible  100  little,"  by  saying,  u  it  is  quite  true,  but 
the  little  Testament  you  gave  me  shall  be  ma  le  my  guide,1'  and  his 
prayers  are  that  God  will  give  him  grace  to  resist  all  evil,  and  keep 
him  from  sickness  and  death,  and  bring  him  home  once  more.  Boxes 
and  barrels  of  apples  are  most  welcome,  and  half  dispirited  from  a 
weak  condition  of  body,  the  year  wears  to  a  close. 

The  boys  complain  of  the  severe  discipline  of  the  "  regular  "  Gen- 
eral Vodges.  Knox  acts  as  second  quarter-master  sergeant  (Dec. 
16th),  and  has  a  good  horse  to  r'.df,  and  meals  at  quarter-m Aster's 
quarters.  Sergeant  Erwin,  with  Col.  White,  is  gomg  on  a  recruiting 
party  to  Oneida  Co.  He  is  now  feeling  pretty  well,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  sore  mouth,  weighs  148  or  150,  and  is,  he  thinks,  on  the 
gain.  Kendall  has  been  baking,  i.nd  has  made  eight  plump  apple 
pies  with  nice  brown  crus's,  and  they  taste  real  good.  A  deserter,  a 
New  Hampshire  boy,  is  shot  on  Morris  Island.  He  is  hoping  again 
for  promotion  by  appointment  of  Gov.  Seymour,  '"  though,1'  he  says, 
"  shoulder-straps  do  not  make  a  man."  However,  the  quarter-master 
reports  on  Christmas  day  that  several  promotions  have  been  made, 
among  them  Charles  Bailey,  Commissary-Sergeant — now  Dr.  Charles 
Bailey,  of  Bloomfield,  N.  J. — to  second-lieutenant  in  24th  1ST.  Y.  Artil- 
lery, and  himself  to  second  lieutenancy.  A  gill  of  whiskey  was  an 
extra  Christmas  ration.  Some  soldiers  bought  up  their  comrade's 
rations  and  got  merry,  but  Knox  writes,  '•  I  dicl  not  draw  any  rations 
or  taste  a  drop."  Some  of  the  officers  have  a  high  time  in  the  lieu- 
tenant's tent,  over  whose  promotion  a  cheer  was  attempted,  but  no  one 
responded.  The  lieutenant  promoted  to  captain,  is  soon  transferred 
to  another  company,  to  the  pleasure  of  Co  G,  who  receive  Capt.  Ker- 
rigan, lately  promoted.  Lieut.  Erwin,  promoted  from  second  to  first 
lieutenancy,  son  of  Rev.  Mr.  Erwin,  of  Rome,  is  assigned  to  Com- 
pany G.  On  the  27th,  h:s  commission  arrives.  The  quarter-master 
just  at  this  time  is  ordered  under  arrest.  Henry  King  al-o  tries  his 
hand  at  green  apple  pies,  and  proves  himself  a  genius  like  all  the 
Augusta  cooks,  and  buckwheat  cakes  come  in  with  the  new  year. 
Their  gingerbread,  however,  would  make  good  bullets  if  only  in  the 
proper  shape.  He  finds  that  after  obtaining  his  N.  Y.  State  commis- 
sion, he  cannot  be  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service  until  the  company 
has  eighty  men.  Lieut.-Col.  White  had  already  held  his  commission 
as  colonel  for  two  or  three  months,  but  cannot  be  mustered  in  as  col- 


A   SKETCH.  83 

onel,  simply  because  the  regiment  Licked  four  mun.  The  major,  too, 
is  waiting  to  be  mustered  in  as  lieutenant  colonel,  and  Capt.  Meyers 
as  major  for  the  same  reason.  Therefor.-  hurry  up  the  recruits  at  Ver- 
non,  Elmira,  etc.  Kirk  Talcott  he  finds  within  a  mile  of  him  looking 
well,  and  he  h  niself  begins  now  to  look  belter  and  feel  better,  having 
received  his  lieutenant's  commission  Jan.  6th.  "This  climate,  1  must 
confess,  does  not  agree  with  me  as  well  as  faither  north,  and  though 
I  am  not  what  they  call  unwell,  still  I  lack  that  strength  and  vigor 
that  I  used  to  enjoy  a  year  ago."  Kirk  sends  up  an  invitation  to 
attend  a  course  of  lectures  on  Shakespeare,  by  Chaplain  Hudson,  of 
the  engineer  corps.  Kirk  is,  however,  ordered  to  Fernandina,  Ha. 
While  Knox  is  at  the  headquarters  of  the  reg  ment,  the  company  are 
ordered  as  gu  ird  to  General  Terry's  headquarters,  who  now  lias  com- 
mand of  the  whole  island.  "  The  boss,''  he  says,  "  are  finely  s  tuated 
there,  having  the  best  quarters,  as  a  general  thing,  that  they  have  had 
since  we  first  came  out.  Our  Augusta  squad,  of  whom  there  are  culy 
five,  Kendall  heing  here  in  the  adjutant's  office,  and  Beach  in  the 
hospital,  occupy  two  tents  in  which  they  have  a  nice  floor  of  matched 
lumber,  a  good  table,  and  everything  as  comfortable  as  they  could 
wish  for  without  much  duty,  being  on  guard  only  ona  in  every  four 
days.  They  have  one  thing  which  I  should  prize  more  than  all  their 
other  comforts,  and  that  is  a  spring  of  good  water.  I  filled  myself 
full,  besides  bringing  back  with  me  a  couple  of  canteens  of  the  pre- 
cious liquid.  It  makes  splendid  coffee  too,  better  than  I  have  drunk 
since  we  came  off  the  Peninsula  inarch.  I  think  it  will  pay  me  to  go 
down  once  in  a  while  if  for  nothing  elss  but  to  get  a  drink.  An 
order  came  to-day  for  the  enrollment  of  a'l  citizens  on  the  island, 
including  negroes.  It  is  one  of  the  best  orders  that  has  been  issued 
lately,  and  makes  some  of  these  citizens  who  have  come  from  the 
north  to  escape  the  draft,  shake.  It  seems  a  pity  to  kt  this  favorable 
weather  pass  by  without  doing  anything  towards  the  reduction  of 
Charleston.  It  seems  to  be  generally  conceded  that  the  city  will  not 
fall  unless  some  force  can  be  brought  to  bear  in  the  rear."  The  rumor 
now  is,  at  the  end  of  January,  that  there  is  to  be  a  land  demonstra- 
tion against  Charleston  from  Hilton  Head,  perhaps  to  cut  the  Charles- 
ton and  Savannah  R.  R.  On  a  call  on  the  boys  of  Company  G,  Knox 
finds  them  all  well  but  Lindsley,  who  is  not  feeling  very  bright,  and 
Beach,  who  is  in  the  regimental  hospital,  ^ome  of  them  are  doing 
guard  duty  over  three  rebel  deserters  who  came  over  from  James 
Island  a  few  days  before.  The  first  week  of  February  the  camp  was 
astir  to  obey  the  order  to  embark  at  Stono  with  three  days'  rations. 


84  A  SKETCH. 

Rumors  fly  thick  and  fast  concerning  their  errands.  Several  other 
regiments  and  their  batteries  accompany  the  117th.  Knox  is  languid 
and  weak,  and  does  not  go.  Watson  Beach  is  in  the  hospital ;  his 
disease  threatens  a  chronic  form.  The  most  creditable  rumor  is  that 
they  have  gone  to  "  Kio,"  or  u  Kiaubia  "  Isl.md  near  Charleston,  to 
draw  attention,  while  a  larger  force  is  under  Gilmore  moving  in 
another  direction.  The  expedition  did  accomplish  this  design. 
Five  or  six  thousand  troops  under  Gen.  Sehemmelfineng  crossed  Stone 
Inlet  to  Kiaubia  Island,  marched  all  night  and  all  day  to  Edisto  Inlet, 
crossing  in  water  about  the  freezing  point,  waist  deep,  to  Seabro :k 
Island,  through  pine  woods  and  swamps  and  deserted  plantations, 
then  to  Little  Island,  where  they  caught  the  enemy  napping,  where 
they  called  off  a  sufficient  number  1o  measure  fo:ces,  and  from  which 
they  retired,  destroying  bridges  and  houses.  Six  new  recruits  came  in 
fromlltica,  but  not  enough  to  give  him  his  muster.  Chaplain  Crippen 
now  gives  his  farewell  address,  resigning  on  account  of  ill  health. 
"  Grandmother's  apple  sauce  "  is  "  first  rate."  During  the  last  of 
February  all  the  troops  were  ordered  to  Jacksonville,  except  the  small 
biigades,  which  would  have  been  in  danger,  were  it  not  that  the 
rebel  lines  were  proportionately  weakened.  Kendall  and  Knox  go 
down  on  Sunday  to  Company  G;  attend  episcopal  service  in  a  beau- 
tiful little  gothic  church  of  the  169th  regiment.  Mother's  box.fiom 
home,  which  she  thinks  "  not  much,"  is  most  acceptable  and  thor- 
oughly enjoyed.  Gen.  Vogdes  has  returned,  and  gone  to  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  to  relieve  Gen.  Seymour.  As  the  weather  grows  warm  he 
is  well  again,  but  it  is  "awful  dull'1  on  the  island,  so  rainy  or  the 
troops  have  gone  to  Florida.  The  regiment  guard  a  line  three  or 
four  miles  long.  He  calls  going  down  to  Company  G  fiom  head- 
quarters, going  home  to  see  the  boys.  In  March,  two  or  three  cases 
of  small-pox  occur.  It  had  prevailed  in  the  negro  hospitals  before, 
and  vaccination  is  administered  through  the  camp.  Cotterel,  who 
has  not  had  the  disease,  but  whose  arm  is  "working,"  is  employed  as 
nurse.  Two  men  in  Company  G  have  the  diseace;  one  of  them  after- 
wards died.  The  first  number  of  the  "  Canteen,"  the  journal  of  the 
Sanitary  Fair  at  Albany,  where  his  father  and  mother  are  visiting,  is 
received  and  drained  dry,  and  his  father's  plans  for  cottomzing  flax 
discussed  in  a  letter.  In  March,  more  recruits  came  in  squads.  But 
the  hospital  boys,  who,  in  Knox's  opinion,  ought  to  go  home,  are  only 
ordered  to  a  general  hospital.  Knox  thinks  them  wasting  ounce  by 
ounce,  especially  Watson  Beach.  Later  he  says,  this  order  will  be  a 
great  disappointment  to  them,  and  will  discourage  them  from  getting 


A  SKETCH.    '  85 

well.  Among  those  intending  to  go,  are  Willard  Bates,  Albert  Til- 
lotson,  Fred.  Law,  and  Nelson  Beach;  all  confined  with  chronic  diar- 
rhoea. The  months  are  passing  away  with  issuing  rations,  gathering 
oysters  by  the  cart  load,  fighting  tlie  fleas,  watching  his  vaccination,  a 
moonlight  ride  in  Gen.  Terry's  pleasure  boat,  the  crew  of  which  was 
from  Co.  G,  the  rescue  of  the  captain's  life  by  Co.  A,  rumors  of  orders 
to  North  Carolina,  and  last  and  most  satisfactory,  the  reception  of  re- 
cruits enough  to  admit  his  promotion,  and  the  enioyment  of  restored 
health.  Knox  says, ''  My  discharge  papers  have  gone  in,  anil  I  am  await 
ing  their  return  to  become  a  citizen  once  more,  only  to  enlist  for  another 
term  of  three  years,  unless  sooner  discharged.  My  prospects  of  see- 
ing this  rebellion  closed  are  good  if  my  life  is  spared.  I  rather  fancy 
the  idea  of  remaining  the  lengthened  term.  Since  I  have  recovered,  I  am 
perfectly  contented,  uiy  weight  now  exceeds  150,  while  at  home  it  was 
only  12  V  They  get  papers,  tracts,  etc.,  from  the  Christian  Commission, 
and  one  of  the  clergymen  declares  that  the  117th  is  the  most  intelli- 
gent regiment  which  he  has  met.  "  The  circular  letter  will  be,  I  have 
no  doubt,  a  good  thing,  but  I  think  it  will  run  off  the  course  after  a 
few  times  round."  The  hospital  boys  on  the  entrance  of  April,  were 
sent  to  the  general  hospital,  probably  at  Beaufort,  N.  C.  On  the  6th, 
lie  is  mustered  out  and  in  again,  and  the  sergeant  becomes  the  lieu- 
tenant and  appears  in  all  the  dignity  of  soldier  straps,  his  commis- 
sion dating  from  the  day  when  the  recruits  filled  up  the  company, 
March  19th.  Nor  does  he  lack  interest  in  religious  things.  They 
have  no  chaplain,  but  a  prayer-meeting  is  held  in  an  ordnance 
building;  and  on  picket,  one  of  the  men  tells  him  some  religious 
interest  is  manifested,  and  of  a  conversion.  He  hopes  for  another 
Chaplain  soon.  On  April  12th,  comes  an  order  to  move  us  soon  as 
transportation  can  be  provided ;  and  the  new  lieutenant  is  ready  to 
go  whithersoever  the  unknown  destination  may  prove  to  be.  Their 
destination  proves  to  be  Fortress  Monroe,  and  the  Gloucester  Point 
oppo-itc  Yorktown,  which  they  reached  on  April  24,  1864. 
They  had  left  behind,  the  palmettoes,  the  giant  fleas,  the  punkies 
and  mosqnitos,  the  sickly  island,  and  come  in  good  spirits  to  join 
the  cooperating  forces  under  General  Grant. 

V.  CITY  POINT  AND  PETERSBURG. 

Stirring  times  now  awaited  the  regiment.  Five  months  now  inter- 
vened before  that  last  battle  was  fought  in  which  our  gallant  boy  fell — 
from  April  24th  to  Sept.  29th.  The  autumn  and  early  winter  which  the 


86  A  SKETCH. 

117tb  had  spent  before  Charleston,  had  been  spent  in  Virginia  in  a 
campaign  ot  manoeuvres  under  Gen.  Meade,  the  later  winter  in  \\inter 
quarters.  Nothing  seemed  to  be  gained.  The  hero  of  Fort  Donald- 
son, of  Shiloh,  and  of  Yicksburg  had  been  coming  into  prominence, 
and  it  was  with  great  satisfaction  that  on  the  10th  of  March,  1864, 
the  whole  North  received  the  nomination  by  the  Pre-ident,  and  the 
confirmation  by  the  Senate,  of  Gen.  Grant  to  the  command  of  the 
whole  army  of  the  United  States.  The  object  of  Gen.  Gra-it  was  not  now 
the  capture  of  Richmond,  but  the  destruction  of  the  Confederate  army. 
His  plan  was  the  concentration  of  forces  on  Lee's  army.  Thirty 
thousand  men  in  two  army  corps,  undtr  General  Butler,  were  to  ascend 
the  James  River.  Gilmore  commanded  one  of  these  corps,  in  which 
was  the  117th.  General  Sigel,  with  17,000  men,  was  to  hold  West  Vir- 
ginia, threaten  the  Virginia  and  East  Tennessee  R.  R.,  and  advance 
up  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Grant  himself  was  to  make  the  overland 
advance  towards  Richmond.  Under  Butler,  then,  conies  Gilmore's 
command,  which  now  is  remaining  at  Gloucester  Point  for  a  week. 
The  117th  had  but  reached  its  camping  ground,  when  rain  ?et  in, 
when,  hungry  and  wet  and  without  supplies,  the  hospitable  48th  N.  Y. 
came  over  with  hardtack  and  coffee.  The  169th  N.  Y.  came  in,  in  the 
same  condit'on  afterwards,  when  the  117th  did  them  a  like  service. 
It  becomes  apparent  to  the  common  soldier  that  a  great  fo'ce  is  con- 
gregating and  moving  on  Richmond.  On  the  30th  of  April,  a  brigade 
of  live  regiments — one  of  which  was  the  117th — proceeded  up  to  the 
head  of  York  River  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Yorktown  Peninsula 
to  West  Point.  On  the  n'ght  of  that  day  Knox  was  aioused  by  the 
cry  of  "  a  man  overboard.''  He  was  picked  up  by  a  boat  lowered  for 
him,  and  proved  to  be  Capf.  Egbert  Bagg,  bi  other  of  Dr.  M.  M.  Bagg, 
of  Utica.  He  was  quartermaster  at  the  enlistment  of  the  regiment, 
and  was  so  fir  from  being  drowned,  that  he  lived  to  command  the 
regiment  in  the  battle  in  which  Knox  fell,  .and  in  three  other  battles, 
and  was  promoted  lieutenant-colonel  for  gallant  conduct  at  Fort 
Hunter  in  January,  1865.  One  of  the  regiments  in  the  brigade  ad- 
vanced some  ten  miles  without  opposition,  showing  that  the  rebels 
vere  otherwise  occupied.  The  expedition  was,  however,  only  a 
feint,  designed  to  draw  oft  attention,  a  id  after  two  or  three  days 
the  whole  brigade  re-embarked  for  the  James  River.  On  the  5th  of 
May,  1864,  the  day  on  which  Grant  crossed  tl>e  Rapidan,  and  the 
Bloomfield  <lomi  ie  moved  from  Morristonn  into  his  new  parish,  the 
troops  were  steaming  down  the  York  River,  rounding  old  Point 
Comfort,  and  proceeding  up  the  James.  The  river — as  they  approach- 


A  SKETCH. 


87 


ed  City  Point,  which  had  just  been  seized  by  a  complete  surprise  on 
the  morning  of  the  Gth — was  alive  with  transports,  firryboats,  armed 
\vs-ds  of  every  kind,  iron-clad  monitors,  etc.  A  gunboat  was  that 
day  blown  up  by  a  rebel  torpedo.  The  point  itself,  made  by  Appo- 


raattox  and  James  Rivers,  was  filled  with  landing  and  moving  troops, 
puffing  engines,  braying  mules,  neighing  hordes,  sounding  bugles, 
rolling  drums,  and  rumMe  of  baggage  and  artillery.  A  body  of  troops 
had  been  advancing  too  on  the  other  (north)  bank  of  the  James  River. 


88  A  SKETCH. 

So  soon  as  the  117th  landed  they  were  pushed  over  the  Appomattox 
River  in  a  force  of  20,000,  to  seige  the  peninsula  known  as  Bermuda 
Hundreds,  and  to  strike  and  d(  stroy  the  Petersburg  and  Richmond 
R.  R.,  one  grand  source  of  supplies  for  Richmond.  On  the  7th,  the 
regiment  participated  in  tearing  up  the  track  of  the  railroad,  and 
had  Butler  moved  on  to  Petersburg,  he  probably  could  have  taken  it. 
On  the  9th,  the  regiment  were  at  Charter  Station,  -within  fourteen 
miles  of  Richmond.  Lee,  astounded  by  the  strength  of  the  movement 
up  the  James,  occupied  as  he  had  been  with  Grant's  terrible  pounding 
"  in  the  wilderness,"  telegraphed  for  Beaui  egard  and  all  his  forces 
from  Charleston.  By  the  9th,  the  reinforcements  began  to  arrive,  and 
to  press  back  our  army  from  the  range  of  the  railro  id.  On  the  16th 
occurred  the  terrible  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  in  which  the  117th  played 
no  unimportant  part,  Beaurcgard  pouring  in  a  heavy  fire  through  a 
denss  fog.  The  10th  Army  Corps,  composed  of  the  117th,  was  under 
fire,  and  when  the  command  was  given  to  retreat,  the  brigade  in 
which  was  the  117th  was  thrown  in  to  defend  the  retreat.  Bullets 
came  thick  as  hail ;  Lieut.  Casselman  and  Capt.  Brigham  were  fatally 
wounded  ;  Col.  White  was  wounded.  When  the  enemy  had  nearly 
surrounded  them,  the  order  came  to  retreat.  "  The  regiment  dashed 
through  the  breach,  re-formed  under  fire,  and  left  the  field  in  line,"  but 
it  ha1  lost  some  eighty-nine  men.  Intrenchrnents  were  thrown  up, 
holding  Bermuda  Hundreds,  but  losing  hold  of  the  Petersburg  and 
Richmond  R.  R.  All  this  occurred  while  Grant  had  been  fighting  six 
days  in  the  wilderness,  and  had  sent,  on  the  16th,  his  dispatch,  "  I 
propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it  takes  all  summer,"  and  while 
lie  was  contesting  the  ground  of  Spottsylvania.  Where  now  were  our 
Augusta  boys  in  this  fierce  fighting  ?  Knox,  left  behind  by  the  doc- 
tor's orders,  had  been  required  to  report  to  the  provost-marshal  with 
thirteen  men  placed  in  his  care ;  and  was  put  in  charge  of  men  re- 
turning from  hospital,  and  details  of  men  for  unloading  a  vessel 
and  building  a  dock.  On  the  8th,  he  went  on  a  tug  to  Harrison's 
Landing  for  cavalry.  He  was  trying  in  vain  to  get  away  and  to  join 
his  regiment,  and  on  the  13th,  ends  his  letter  thus:  "Hoping  that 
God  will  spare  my  life.  I  will  close."  On  the  eventful  16th,  he  writes: 
"  Two  or  three  hours  since  I  arrived  in  camp— having  come  up  from 
Bermuda  Hundreds — in  charge  of  a  small  squad  of  men  from  our 
brigade.  Before  I  started,  all  the  morning  long,  heavy  cannonading 
could  be  distinctly  heard,  and  I  knew  that  a  battle  was  in  progress. 
Shortly  after  I  reached  here,  Col.  White  came  in,  having  received  a 
sl'ght  flesh  wound  in  the  shoulder.  He  lost  the  regiment,  and  there- 


A  SKETCH.  89 

fore  returned  to  camp.  His  -wound  would  not  have  sent  him  in. 
Since  then,  quite  a  number  have  come  in  slightly  wounded,  and  I 
presume  many  others  have  gone  to  the  Corps  Hospital,  or  have  been 
conveyed  in  ambulances  to  the  river,  and  then  placed  on  board 
steamers.  Of  the  officers,  quite  a  number  are  wounded.  Capt. 
Brigham  has  a  wound  in  the  hip,  not  serious ;  Lieut.  Casselman, 
it  is  supposed,  cannot  live,  having  received  a  bullet  through  his 
bowels.  Others  are  reported  to  have  received  wounds,  but  you  are 
not  acquainted  with  them.  Of  the  Augusta  boys,  two  are  wounded 
that  we  know  of.  Corporal  Gray  very  slightly  in  the  shoulder.  He 
was  wounded  the  day  before  yesterday,  and  has  been  assisting  others 
who  were  worse  off  since.  Robbins  is  slightly  wounded  ;  Lindsley 
is  safe  and  in  camp  ;  Cotterell  was  with  the  company  the  last  he  was 
heard  from  ;  King  (Henry)  was  left  at  Gloucester  with  a  sore  leg,  to 
be  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe.  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  anything 
concerning  Albert  Shearman,  but  presume  he  is  safe.  The  regiment  is 
somewhat  cut,  but  I  think  not  many  are  killed.  Only  the  wounded, 
and  those  who  assisted  tttem  in,  are  in  camp.  Our  forces  have  been 
driven  back  some  distance  to  within  the  intrenchments.  The  rebels 
were  reinforced  by  two  brigades  during  the  night.  The  117th 
charged  on  a  battery  several  times,  but  were  repulsed  each  time. 
They  are  reported  to  have  fought  well,  but  the  rebels  were  intrenched 
while  they  were  in  an  open  field.  A  great  proportion  of  the  wounds 
are  slight,  and  in  the  hands  and  arms.  I  may  go  out  to  the  front  in 
the  morning,  but  do  not  yet  know.  "We  shall  hold  our  position  now. 
I  write  in  great  haste,  knowing  you  will  be  anxious  to  hear.  My  prayer 
to  God  is  that  we  may  be  victorious.  Do  not  worry  about  me ;  a  kind 
Providence  is  directing  every  event.  Later  :  Capt.  Brigham  has  just 
been  brought  in ;  he  is  easy :  his  wound  has  not  yet  been  dressed ; 
Charles  Law  was  killed;  Newkirk  is  wounded  through  the  arm — bone 
fractured;  Antone  Lorenzo  is  wounded  severely;  Gris  wold  was  seen 
to  fall,  and  has  not  since  been  heard  from  ;  McLean  is  missing.  Capt. 
Brigham,  after  being  wounded,  shouted  to  his  Co.,  '  Go  in,  boys,  give 
it  to  them;  I  am  hit,  but  not  conquered.'"  On  the  15th,  he  went  in 
charge  of  sixty-seven  men,  to  report  at  department  headquarters.  A 
few  of  the  men  found  their  regiments — for  all  the  regiments  were  at  the 
front — and  Knox  had  to  bring  the  rest  back  through  mud  and  rain.  On 
the  16th,  when  the  wounded  came  in,  Gray,  Robbins,  and  Hayward 
were  wounded,  in  addition  to  Captain  Brigham,  Lieut.  Casselman,  and 
Col.  White.  On  the  17th,  Knox  has  joined  his  regiment,  in  which 
the  morning  report  gives  sixteen  killed,  one  mortally  wounded,  thirty- 


90  A   SKETCH. 

four  severely  wounded,  thirty  slightly  wounded,  eight  nrssing. 
McLean,  of  Vernon  Centre,  is  missing,  or  has  been  taken  prisoner; 
Capt.  Brigham  has  died  of  his  wounds.  The  wounded  are  sent  to 
Fortress  Monroe.  During  this  time  Knox  is  in  command  of  Company 
E,  in  respect  to  which  he  says,  "  A  responsible  position  just  now,  but 
I  will  do  my  best  to  fill  it."  In  that  company,  in  the  morning  report 
is  "two  killed  two  severely  wounded, two  sl'ghtly  wounded."  "Hay- 
ward  cannot  live."  "  Hay  ward  of  Augusta  has  been  severely  wounded  in 
the  head,  by  a  piece  of  a  flying  shell."  On  the  18th,  at  noon,  the  brig- 
ade "  fell  in,"  marched  a  mile  to  the  front,  rested  on  their  arms,  and 
returned  to  camp  again.  On  the  19th,  they  were  ordered  to  the  same 
position  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  returned  to  camp  at  noon. 
An  order  comes  to  go  out  on  picket  duty,  but  is  countermanded.  On 
the  20th,  the  regiment  are  under  arms  at  two  o'clock  A.M.,  and  at  half- 
past  ten  o'clock  march  to  intrenchments,  and  at  six  o'clock  p.  M., 
Companies  E,  H,  and  C,  go  out  to  a  small  fort,  on  which  they  "  work." 
On  the  21st,  the  regiment  lie  in  the  field  all  day.  After  getting 
asleep,  a  sharp  artillery  fire  opens  from  our 'batteries  for  half  an  hour, 
during  which  time  the  troops  are  under  arms.  On  the  forenoon  of 
the  22d,  they  lie  in  the  same  place,  and  in  the  afternoon  they  go 
back  to  intrenchments. 

Butler  was  now  as  he  said,  "  bottled  up  "  in  Bermuda  Hundreds  ; 
that  is,  the  two  rivers,  James  and  Appomattox,  which  curve  in  folds 
around  three  sides  of  his  camp,  and  protected  him  from  attack,  also 
rendered  him  powerless  to  attack.  He  could  still  pass  the  Appo- 
mattox, and  from  the  south  side,  seige  Petersburg.  He  made  all  his 
preparations  to  do  so,  when  he  was  ordered  by  General  Grant  to  send 
the  greater  part  of  his  army  to  assist  the  army  of  the  IVtomac,  which 
was  now  approaching  the  James  at  the  Chickahominy.  There  had 
been  further  fighting  along  General  Butler's  front,  on  the  18th,  19th, 
20th,  and  21st,  with  some  loss  on  each  side,  but  with  no  decisive 
result. 

Meanwhile  Grant  had  been  advancing  southward,  fighting  at  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House,  from  May  8th  to  21st ;  at  the  North  Anna 
River,  from  the  23d  to  the  25th ;  and,  at  Cold  Harbor,  was  now  de- 
termined to  force  the  Chickahominy  River,  and  force  Lee  within  the 
intrenchments  of  Richmond.  Cold  Harbor  was  accessible  to  the 
York  River,  and  from  West  Point,  where  our  117th  had  been  twice 
before ;  and  thither,  just  after  the  action  at  Cold  Harbor  began,  the 
troops  from  under  Butler's  command  arrived  on  the  31st.  Follow 
now  our  regiment  to  this  change  of  their  base  ;  for  we  shall  find  that 


A  SKETCH.  91 

while  they  went  from  the  James  to  the  York  and  Pamunky,  Grant 
was  preparing  to  move  from  the  Pamunky  to  the  James.  On  the 
28th  of  May,  the  117th  formed,  crossed  the  Appomattox,  and  took 
the  direction  of  Petersburg,  where  they  encamped  in  a  wheat  field; 
but  next  day,  by  a  circuiious  route,  came  back  to  City  Point,  whence 
they  sail  do  AH  the  James  on  the  S'.ith,  round  Old  Point  Comfort, 
steam  up  the  York  again,  up  the  Pamunky,  one  of  the  streams  which 
form  the  York,  and  arrive  at  White  House  on  the  Slst,  while  the 
heavy  battle  is  in  progress  at  Cold  Harbor.  Knox  remained  at  City 
Point  on  the  29th  and  30th,  with  a  detail  of  thirty  men,  to  ship  the 
brigade  teams  and  wagon>.  Capt.  Hunt  returned  that  day,  and 
Lieut.  McGill  took  command  of  Co.  E,  going,  I  suppose,  with  the 
regiment.  The  regiment  marched  immediately  for  the  battle-field, 
and  remained  in  the  midst  of  musketry  and  shells  for  nine  days. 
The  main  battle,  in  which  they  did  not  participate,  was  not  success- 
ful;  but  behind  intreucliments,  they  were  exposed  to  sharp-shooters, 
so  that  a  hand  or  head  could  not  appear  without  bringing  a  bullet. 
All  day  long  and  all  night  long  bullets  whizzed,  shells  came  crashing 
in,  and  even  the  field  hospital  was  shelled  by  the  barbarous  enemy. 
Knox  is  detained  at  City  Point  on  the  Slst  and  June  1st,  waiting  for 
transportation,  while  his  regiment  is  at,  the  front.  On  Thursday,  June 
2d,  he,  horses  and  men  are  steaming  on  the  propeller  "  Gov.  Chase," 
down  the  James,  on  Friday  pass  Fortress  Monroe  at  nine  A.  M.,  West 
Point,  at  the  head  of  York  River,  at  three  and  a  half  p.  M.,  and 
reach  White  House  at  night.  On  Saturday  he  assisted  to  land  the 
horses;  "saw  some  600  dirty  rebels ;"  learned  that  his  brigade  was 
pplit  up,  and  that  his  regiment  was  under  Gen.  Annis,  and  had  gone 
to  the  front  yesterday;  that  Lieut.  Dawn  fell,  a  bullet  in  his  chest; 
and  marched  till  eleven,  and  camped  for  the  night.  On  Sunday,  the 
5th  of  June,  he  found  his  regiment  ''a  mile  and  a  half  or  so  to  the 
front,'1  and  went  into  the  rifle-pits,  where  Lieut.  Charles  Bailey  visited 
them.  On  Monday,  Companies  E,  A,  K,  and  G,  worked  on  rifle-pits, 
and  in  the  p.  M.,  a  flag  of  truce  covered  the  burial  of  the  dead.  On 
Tuesday,  he  was  in  the  intrench ments,  Co.  E  occupying  a  redoubt 
in  front  of  the  regular  line.  Lieut.  Miller,  wounded  in  the  leg,  was  up 
nearly  all  night  till  Wednesday.  Wm.  H.  Servey,  of  Rome,  was  shot 
through  the  neck,  and  died  in  the  trenches  before  he  could  be  got 
out.  and  on  Wednesday  night,  the  8th,  the  regiment  returned  to  their 
old  bivouac,  the  battle  in  the  field  and  behind  trenches  being  over. 
On  the  12th  of  June,  Smith's  corps — that  part  of  Butler's  forces 
which  had  come  from  City  Point  to  White  House — re-etnbarked  from 


92  A  SKETCH. 

White  House  back  to  City  Point.  While  Smith's  corps  tore  up  the 
rails  from  Chickahominy  to  White  House,  and  shipped  them  around 
for  use  at  City  Point.  Grant's  army  was  moving  straight  across  from 
the  Chickahominy  to  the  James.  Lee's  attempt  to  annoy  Grant's 
march,  did  not  prevent  him  reaching  the  James.  Pontoon  and  ferry 
boats  were  ready.  The  army  was  safdy  across,  and  on  June  14th  and 
loth,  was  thunde:ing  on  the  southern  approaches  to  Richmond. 
Grant,  once  at  Bermuda  Hundreds,  ordered  Butler  to  push  Smith's 
corps — just  arrived  from  the  Chickahominy — as  quickly  as  possible 
against  Petersburg.  Smith  at  once  crossed  the  Appomattox  by  a 
pontoon  bridge,  and  before  noon  of  June  15th,  forced  the  east  de- 
fences of  Petersburg ;  but  there  for  some  unexplained  reason,  he 
halted  and  attempted  no  decisive  attack  till  next  morning.  Next 
morning  Lee's  veterans  were  in  his  front.  Had  Smith  pushed  on,  no 
doubt  Petersburg  would  have  fallen  with  comparative  ease,  our  army 
would  have  been  within  intrenchments,  and  perhaps  our  brave  boy 
would  have  been  with  us  to-'lay.  Smith's  delay  turned  the  whole 
campaign  and  protracted  Grant's  labor  into  a  long  seige  of  ten 
months.  We  now  follow  back  the  portion  which  the  117th  Regi- 
ment had,  and  which  our  boy  had  in  Smith's  movements  fiorn  the 
12th  to  the  16th  of  June,  and  in  the  seige  for  the  next  two  and  a  half 
months,  *.  e.,  to  the  first  of  September.  On  the  12th,  they  moved 
cautiously  from  the  trenches  at  Cold  Harbor;  on  the  13th,  passed 
down  the  Pamunky  and  York  Rivers;  on  the  14th,  pas&ed  through 
an  extensive  pontoon  bridge  across  the.  pass  at  Harrison's  landing 
and  encamped  in  the  rear  of  the  Bermuda  Hundreds  line;  on  the 
15th,  crossed  the  Appomattox  on  pontoons  before  daylight,  just  at 
which  time  the  brave  colored  troops  in  front  carried  the  outer  de- 
fences ot  Petersburg.  Before  noon  the  117th  formed  in  the  line  and 
advanced  through  the  woods.  Now  comes  the  delay.  At  length  in 
connection  with  an  artillery  attack,  the  line  charges  across  the  valley, 
takes  and  holds  the  enemy's  works  on  the  heights,  Capt.  Stevens  and 
Capt.  Hunt  being  conspicuous  in  the  attack.  The  charge  confused 
and  demoralized  the  rebel  troops  in  their  defences.  But  there,  ia  pos- 
session of  the  outer  defences  of  Petersburg,  under  the  light  of  a  bril- 
liant moon,  stood  the  regiment  waiting  for  superior  orders,  looking 
down  on  the  silent  and  nearly  defenceless  city;  for  the  rebel  troops, 
as  was  evident  from  the  prisoners  and  dead,  were  citizens  fresh  from 
home  avocations.  Why  they  did  not  go  down  and  possess  the  city 
no  one  can  tell.  That  night  the  sound  of  arriving  trains  was  heard, 
and  next  morning,  16th,  their  glasses  saw  distinctly  the  incoming  tide 


A  SKETCH.  93 

of  gray-backs.  Butler  tried  to  cut  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg 
R.  R.  ;  lie  did  destroy  a  short  piece  of  it,  but  was  soon  driven  back. 
On  the  17th,  tlie  regiment  made  some  slight  advance,  but  lay  quietly 
face  to  face  with  the  enemy,  and  such  was  the  sen?e  of  security,  that 
some  of  the  soldiers  walked  about  on  the  embankments;  one  of 
whom,  Capt.  J.  P.  Stone,  of  Company  B,  was  shot  dead  with  a  minnie 
ball  through  the  head.  As,  however,  the  enemy  was  making  a  demon- 
stration against  the  Bermuda  Hundreds  line,  the  regiment  and  brigade 
were  ordered  to  support  that  line.  Crossing  the  Appomattox,  there- 
fore, north-west,  they  remained  five  days — from  the  18th  to  the  23d — 
on  the  23d,  exposed  to  the  accurate  and  fierce  firing  of  the  rebel 
artillery,  and  then  recrossed  the  Appomattox  and  lay  in  the  trenches 
before  Petersburg  for  a  month,  in  m<  st  difficult  and  exhausting  duty, 
under  breastworks,  above  which  the  least  exposure  of  the  person  was 
almost  certain  death  ;  in  scorching  heat,  in  cramped  or  reclining  pos- 
tnn-s.  in  lack  of  cleanliness  and  exercise,  and  even  with  the  horrible 
and  disheartening  sight  of  un buried  and  corrupting  dead.  Capt. 
Hunt  wus  here  shot  dead,  little  thinking  of  danger,  and  the  train  of 
ambulances  beaiing  the  wounded  went  to  City  Point  almost  daily. 
What  about  Knox  personally?  The  day  Tie/ore  he  moved  for  Cdd 
Harbor,  he  received  the  circular  letter,  and  had  command  of  the  relief 
at  night,  and  at  the  order  to  move,  was  detailed  by  the  colonel  to  act 
as  adjutant  on  the  13th  and  14th,  sailed  with  the  regiment  to  Ber- 
muda Hundreds,  encamping,  he  says,  within  a  few  rods  of  the  ground 
which  they  occupied  before  leaving  for  "Wl  ite  House.  On  the  event- 
ful 15th,  he  was  in  the  line  of  buttle,  the  line  lying  flat,  the  shells 
bursting  within  a  few  feet  of  them,  three  men  of  Company  G  being 
killed.  lie  is  relieved  of  the  adjutancy,  and  is  with  the  company.  Com- 
panies D  and  II  were  in  the  action,  and  his  company  with  the  re?t  of  the 
regiment  advanced  and  held  one  fort,  till  they  were  relieved;  Knox's 
part  of  the  legiment  lay  in  reserve,  throwing  up  lifle-pits  at  evening 
on  the  liith,  the  day  the  colored  troo(  s  took  the  rebel  rifle-pits.  That 
was  the  day  when  Capt.  Stone  was  shot,  and  the  next  morning  they 
were  relieved  and  marched  back  to  their  old  camp  at  Bermuda  Hun- 
dreds. On  the  20th  he  writes,  "The  enemy  in  front  are  quiet,  but  I 
understand  we  are  to  make  an  attack  on  the  centre  to-night,  and 
move  them  from  a  commanding  position  they  now  bold.  Our  right 
will  not  be  engaged.  Trusting  that  God,  who  is  directing  all  for  the 
best,  will  preserve  my  life  and  hea'th  to  the  end,  I  am  trying  to  live 
each  day  as  one  of  His  children."  On  the  21st  and  22d,  he  is  on 
picket  for  twenty-four  hours.  Great  cheers  for  "  Old  Abe  "  and  Gen- 


94  A   SKETCH. 

eral  Butler,  who  ride  along  the  lines.  The  Johnnies  sing  in  their 
trenches,  and  our  boys  cheer  and  cry  out,  "  Bully  for  you.  Johnnies/' 
"  Give  us  another;  "  "  Now  come  over  and  get  some  coffee."  <  )n  the 
24th,  at  two  A.  M.,  they  arrive  again  in  the  Petersburg  intrenchments, 
for  the  purpose  of  attack  during  the  day.  The  following  affecting 
record  is  in  his  journal :  "  We  go  on  a  charge,  and  I  am  in  command 
of  Co.  B.  If  I  am  killed,  send  my  body  home  and  all  expenses  will 
be  paid.  Let  Uncle  William  preach  the  funeral  sermon.  My  trust  in 
God  is  firm."  However,  "  after  forming  in  line  of  battle  with  fixed 
bayonets,  it  was  decided  not  to  charge,  as  they  learned  that  the 
enemy  were  in  force."  There  was  reason  enough  to  fear  the  result, 
for  thirty  men  lay  dead  and  unburied  beyond  their  reach  since  the 
17th  of  June,  who  fell  on  the  same  charge  which  the  117th  were  to 
have  made.  "  Four  men,  who  went  out  with  stretchers  after  some  of 
the  dead,  were  all  shot."  The  next  morning,  25th,  they  moved  into 
the  advance  pits.  From  the  trenches  he  writes  to  Uncle  Jay  on  the 
27th,  as  follows:  "June  27th,  18(54,  1st  Brigade,  (3d,  112th,  117th, 
and  142d  Regiments,)  Colonel  Curtiss ;  2d  Div.,  Gen.  Turner,  10th 
corps. 

"  We  arrived  here  during  the  night  after  a  hard  march,  and  imme- 
diately took  the  trenches,  where  we  have  been  since.  We  occupy  the 
front  lines,  and  have  to  keep  well  under  cover,  notwithstanding  which, 
we  have  liad  quite  a  number  wounded.  Our  pits  are  lined  with  hair- 
mattresses  (one  of  which,  worth  $40,  I  am  now  reclining  on),  feather- 
beds,  carpets,  hearth  rugs,  mattings,  chairs,  etc.,  all  (lawful)  plunder 
from  a  fine  residence  just  in  our  rear.  The  weather  is  very  hot  in- 
deed, and  we  are  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun,  except  as  the 
men  can  shield  themselves  by  fastening  up  their  shelter-tents  ;  it  is 
almost  unendurable.  We  hope  to  be  relieved  to-night.  1  am  now  in 
command  of  Co.  H.  We  have  only  ten  line  officers  present,  one  to 
each  Co.  Four  have  been  killed  and  seven  wounded,  since  May  IGth." 
On  the  21st,  a  shell  exploded  just  in  the  edge  of  their  works, 
wounding  three  men  in  Co.  H.  Bullets  fly  thick.  On  going  to  a 
house  in  the  rear  after  the  firing  ceased,  he  could  hear  the  church 
bells  ringing,  and  the  dogs  barking  in  Petersburg. 

"  You  seem  to  have  formed  the  opinion,"  he  writes  that  day  to  his 
father,  "  that  I  am  rather  a  'slow  coach,'  and  do  not  write  you  as  of- 
ten as  I  might.  If  you  could  appreciate  the  difficulties  we  labor 
under  to  write  at  all,  living  the  roaming  li'e  that  we  have  the  last 
month,  I  do  not  think  you  would  be  inclined  to  complain  in  the  least. 
You  may  imagine  me  now,  seated  on  the  ground  behind  the  earth- 


A  SKETCH.  95 

works,  with  my  MOUM-.  vc.-t,  and  shoes  off,  while  the  (a  bullet  just 
struck  the  top  of  the  pit,  and  has  nicely  sanded  my  paper,  beside 
knocking  dawn  considerable  dirt  over  my  head)  sun  pours  down  about 
110  or  12o  degrees  hot.  These  are  the  circumstances  under  which 
I  norw  write." 

On  the  night  of  the  2Sth,  the  enemy  shelled  all  night,  and  he  got 
only  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  sleep,  but  no  one  was  injured.  On  the  29th, 
he  got  away  to  the  rear  and  had  a  bath,  nearly  finished  muster  rolls 
of  Co.  B,  and  went  back  to  the  trenches  and  Co.  E.  On  the  after- 
r.oon  of  Thursday,  the  30th.  "An  order  came  for  twenty  men  from 
the  company  to  occupy  the  front  pits,  to  pack  knapsacks  and  pile 
them  i  p  under  charge  of  a  guard,  as  Burton's  brigade  was  to  make 
a  charge,  and  we  wire  to  support  them."  "God  grant  that  we  may 
come  out  safe,''  says  his  diary.  "  We  moved  forward  while  the  ball 
opened  on  the  left  of  us,  and  was  continued  s-ome  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes,  when  the  tiring  ceased,  and  we  returned  to  our  former  posi- 
tion. I  did  not  learn  as  any  ground  was  gained.  We  had  two  men 
slightly  wounded  Friday,  July  lsf.  To-day  I  went  to  the  rear  again 
to  finish  up  Co.  E's  rolls,  and  did  not  return  till  after  dark,  when  I 
found  that  the  regiment  had  been  relieved  and  moved  back  one  line 
to  rest.  After  dark,  the  Colonel  received  an  order  to  send  to  General 
Turner's  headquarters  for  sanitary  stores  for  the  regiment,  which 
order  was  quickly  complied  with,  the  detail  bringing  back  a  hundred 
cans  of  tomatoes,  a  few  pickled  onions  and  lemons,  and  a  quantity  of 
tobacco. 

"  Yesterday  I  received  your  letter  of  the  27th  ;  I  was  ordered  to  take 
command  of  Co.  (J,  and  am  now  back  with  the  old  bo^s.  You  at 
home  kn<>w  nothing  of  hot  weather.  If  you  want  to  get  a  slight  idea 
of  huw  we  are  situated,  dig  a  trench  out  in  the  back  lot,  go  out  there 
with  a  piece  ot  cotton  cloth  6x6,  take  a  piece  of  raw  salt  pork,  a  few 
ounces  of  coffee  and  sugar,  and  a  lew  hard  crackers  with  a  quart  cup 
and  canteen;  station  a  few  hundred  men  with  rifles  fifty  rods  in  front, 
and  every  time  you  show  your  head  have  one  of  them  shoot.  Keep 
awake  half  of  every  night,  cook  your  coffee  in  the  cup,  and  eat  your 
pork  and  crackers ;  lay  in  the  sun  only  shaded  by  the  co'.ton  6x6, 
and  you  may  form  an  idea  of  what  lying  in  the  trenches  is.  This  we 
have  done  since  the  2-'id  ult.  I  am  still  well.  Fresh  troops  are 
arriving,  and  I  hope  we  may  be  relieved  and  sent  back  to  Bermuda 
Hundreds.  To-morrow  is  the  4ih,  and  I  hear  it  will  be  celebrated  by 
one  of  the  heaviest  bombardments  of  the  war.  Heavy  seige  guns 
are  being  placed  in  position,  and  when  they  open,  Petersburg  will  be 


9G  A   SKETCH. 

a  hot  place  to  live  in.  We  have  a  thirty-pound  Parrott  a  little  to  our 
right,  and  that,  every  few  minutes,  sends  a  shell  screeching  over  our 
heads  into  the  city ;  we  call  it  "  the  Petersburg  Express."  This  letter 
was  written  on  Sunday,  3d  July,  on  which  day  a  service  was  held  by 
the  Christian  Commission  in  the  rear.  No  great  battle,  however,  took 
place  on  the  4th,  except  that  the  mortar  batteries  and  sharp-shooters 
annoyed  them,  and  Thomas  Gray  was  wounded  about  four  p.  M.  Cot- 
tere.l  and  Daball  were  wounded  the  next  day — when  the  shells  flew 
thick  all  day — and  Knox  made  a  report  of  casualties  since  June  20th. 
The  next  Sunday,  10th,  his  letter  gives  the  following:  "On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  8th,  the  three  companies  in  front  of  our  battery  were  noti- 
fied that  we  could  move  to  the  rear,  as  the  guns  would  probably  reply 
if  the  enemy  opened,  and  it  was  not  safe  to  remain,  in  that  case.  The 
order  was  obeyed  willingly,  and  we  moved  back  out  of  range,  and 
lay  till  about  four  p.  >i.,  when  suddenly  a  volley  of  musketry  started 
us  to  our  feet,  the  sound  of  which  appeared  to  come  from  our  regiment 
front.  The  Adjutant  soon  came  down  with  an  order  for  us  to  take 
our  former  position  in  the  trenches,  and  but  a  few  moments  c-lapsed 
before  we  were  there.  On  the  way  in,  a  stretcher  came  out  bearing  a 
wounded  man,  and  a  little  further  on  lay  another  with  half  of  his 
head  blown  off  by  a  piece  of  shell.  These  sights  are  of  daily  occur- 
rence, excite  only  a  casual  remark,  and  are  passed  by.  We  found  that 
the  firing  was  about  equally  divided  between  us  and  the  John  R's, 
they  being  the  aggressors.  They  suddenly  arose  from  behind  their 
works  and  fired  a  volley,  which  was  promptly  responded  to  fiom  our 
side,  and  then  the  usual  quiet  prevailed.  If  it  was  their  intention  to 
ascertain  whether  we  were  in  force  in  their  front,  I  have  no  doubt 
that  they  were  thoroughly  convinced.  As  soon  as  dark  came,  we 
moved  out  to  the  rear  again,  being  relieved  by  the  112th.  We  have 
wallowed  in  the  dust  since,  and  though  at  dawn  this  morning  we  had 
orders  to  pack  and  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  I  doubt 
not  that  we  shall  resume  our  old  position  again  to-night.  Just  in  our 
rear  are  the  surgeon's  quarters,  \\here  all  the  wounded  in  our  imme- 
diate front  are  brought  and  the  operations  performed.  I  find  I  can 
stand  by  with  good  nerve  and  see  an  arm  or  leg,  hand  or  foot  ampu- 
tated. 

"  Our  losses  have  been  somewhat  severe  for  the  past  two  months, 
but  the  regiment  numbers  but  a  few  sick  at  present,  and  the  men 
have  a  strong,  healthy  look.  I  am  surprised  that  I  retain  my  flesh  so 
well,  and  feel  in  such  good  spirits.  The  Sanitary  Commission  pay  us 
considerable  attention.  Yesterday  a  large  quantity  of  canned  toma- 


A  SKETCH.  97 

toes  were  distributed,  which  were  quite  a  treat.  Our  commissary 
stores  are  also  improving,  and  we  are  drawing,  now  and  then,  green 
cabbage,  potatoes,  etc." 

An  accompanying  letter  expressed  that  day  his  religious  life: 
"Your  letters  are  always  welcome,  especially  the  religious  portions, 
and  I  hope  you  will  not  infer  from  my  letters  that  I  do  not  appreciate 
your  care  for  my  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual  welfare.  I  well  know 
your  feelings,  and  think  that  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  your 
fondest  wishes  concerning  me  will  not  be  hurt  by  any  act  of  mine — 
I  feel  more  and  more  each  day  the  importarce  of  living  a  firm,  con- 
sistent Christian  life;  and  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  and,  I  hope, 
assisted  by  God's  grace,  am  endeavoring  to  live  as  becometh  those 
who  have  professed  His  name.  I  see  more  and  more  each  d.iy  the  fol- 
lies of  this  world,  thrown  as  I  am  among  those  who  knowingly  trans- 
gress God's  holy  laws,  and  instead  of  being  lured  into  the  same 
habits,  by  His  grace  assisting  me,  I  turn  away  from  them  in  disgust. 
You  may  be  assured  that  I  am  not  unmindful  of  the  duties  I  owe  to 
my  Creator,  and  that  my  prayers  mingle  with  yours  for  grace  and 
protection  from  all  danger.  Each  day  as  the  sun  passes  over  my 
head,  I  thank  Him  for  the  mercies  of  the  day,  and  each  morning  I  ask 
for  freedom  from  all  sin  and  evil.  Your  advice  will  always  be  cheer- 
fully received,  and  if  I  do  not  respond  as  fully  as  you  may  think  I 
should,  do  not  attribute  it  to  any  lack  <>f  interest  on  my  part." 

On  the  12th,  he  was  surprised  by  the  reception  of  his  promotion  to 
1st  lieutenancy,  which  was  by  the  recommendation  of  his  colonel 
(White).  The  commission  came  and  he  was  mustered  in.  "I  was 
informed/'  he  says,  "some  lime  since,  that  my  name  had  been  sent 
in  to  Gov.  Seymour,  but  I  did  not  expect  so  speedy  a  return."  He 
was  mustered  in  the  same  day.  On  the  19th,  Wat?on  Beach  returned 
from  the  hospital  at  Beaufort,  S.  C.  During  the  first  part  of  the 
month  of  July,  Early  had  been  making  his  dash  into  Pennsylvania. 
The  clerks  at  Washington  were  all  ordered  to  be  ready  to  take  arms, 
and  Knox  says,  ou  receiving  a  letter  from  Uncle  Jay,  "  I  should  have 
laughed  some,  I  believe,  if  I  could  have  seen  him  in  the  ranks  with 
&  set  of  accoutrements  on.  Uncle  Jay  writes  that  the  Family  book 
(what  title  does  it  bear  \)  is  very  tastefully  got  up,  and  does  great 
credit  to  Charlie." 

Col.  White  has  resigned ;  Major  Daggett  becomes  Colonel.  On  the 
24th  of  July,  the  circular  letter  has  arrived  again.  General  Ord, 
during  this  week,  supersedes  Gen.  Smith  in  command  of  the  army 
7 


98  A   SKETCH. 

corps.  Knox  goes  to  the  General  Headquarters  on  the  28th,  has  a 
look  through  a  glass  at  Petersburg,  and  it  is  live  minutes  past  eight 
by  a  church  clock  in  that  city.  On  the  last  day  of  July,  the  regiment 
marched  slowly  to  Point  of  Kncks.  fifteen  men  in  the  division  failing 
with  a  sunstroke,  and  six  dying,  and  the  Sanitary  Commission  doing 
excellent  service  in  distributing  ice  water  and  stimulating  drinks. 
Knox  has  for  some  time  now  had  a  darkie  boy  to  support  the  dig- 
nity of  his  position,  who  came  back  from  Folly  Island  with  him,  car- 
ries his  blankets,  does  his  washing,  etc.,  etc. 

Aug.  1st. — ''  The  photograph  of  Sauchie  is  beautiful,  but  I  can't  see 
sending  it  back."  The  regiment  is  encamped  in  a  stumpy  field  in 
the  rear  at  Bermuda  Hundreds,  clearing  it  up  until  the  14th  of 
August,  going  now  and  (hen  to  the  intrenchments.  News  comes  of 
the  discovery  of  a  rebel  mine  constructed  under  the  defense  at  Peters- 
burg in  a  place  where  a  party  of  the  117th  had  lain,  but  in  which,  on 
suspicion  of  its  existence,  a  rebel  sergeant,  captain,  twelve  men,  and 
two  tons  of  powder  are  captured.  The  retirement  of  the  117th  from 
that  position  was  entirely  better  than  to  have  been  blown  up.  The  boys 
capture  two  coons  and  name  them  Jeff.  Davis  and  Ben.  Butler,  but  are 
inclined  to  think  they  live  together  more  peaceably  than  their  name- 
sakes would.  He  is  now  in  command  of  Co.  G,  and  is,  part  of  the 
time,  brigade  officer  of  the  guard.  He  thinks  no  army  ever  livedbet- 
ter  than  ours.  News  now  came  of  Farragut's  capture  of  Mobile.  Butler 
is  now  at  work  on  the  Dutch  Gap  Canal,  which  is  designed  to  make 
a  short  cut  in  the  James  River,  past  the  rebel  battery  called  "  IIow- 
lett's."  The  troops  from  Bermuda  Hundreds  have  mostly  departed 
to  the  north  of  the  James,  but  the  musicians  remain  to  keep  up  the 
routine  of  army  calls  to  deceive  the  enemy.  Half  of  their  army 
corps  are  over  the  river,  and  the  half  in  which  is  the  117th,  is  left  to 
defend  the  works.  Two  rebel  deserters  come  in.  Musketry  and 
heavy  cannonading  are  in  progress  at  Petersburg,  and  on  the  James. 
He  has  received  the  "Golden  Wedding"  book,  and  is  much  pleased 
with  it.  He  has  a  visit  from  Kirk  Talcott,  who  is  on  General  Foster's 
staff,  who  is  now  in  command  of  that  division. 

THE  LAST  BATTLES. 

We  now  come  to  operations  which  led  to  the  battle  in  which  our 
hero  lost  his  life.  During  the  progress  of  these  details  in  Knox's 
life,  already  carried  into  July,  Butler  had  been  using  a  pontoon  bridge 


A   SKETCH.  99 

for  two  or  three  months,  which  he  had  constructed  and  secured 
across  the  James,  from  Bermuda  Hundreds  to  Deep  Bottom,  only  ten 
miles  from  Richmond,  and  the  line  of  intrenchments  were  extending 
all  along  the  front  from  Petersburg  to  Richmond,  crossing  the  Appo- 
mattox  at  Port  Walthal  and  the  James,  near  Dutch  Gap  Canal. 
The  position  at  Deep  Bottom  disquieted  Lee,  and  he  made  one  or  two 
ineffectual  attempts  upon  it.  Grant  then  quietly  sent  out  an  army 
corps,  from  the  extreme  left  at  Petersburg  to  his  extreme  right  at 
Richmond,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  fall  back,  holding  Chapin's 
Bluff  as  his  strong  defensive  work  on  the  north  bank  of  the  James. 
Sheridan  charged  on  the  Bluff  and  compelled  Lee  to  call  off  five  out  of 
eight  divisions  at  Petersburg  to  repel  Sheridan,  when  the  Grand 
mine  at  Petersburg,  which  had  been  preparing  for  weeks,  was  sprung, 
blowing  a  rebel  fort  and  300  men  high  in  air,  and  opening  a  chasm 
in  the  rebel  fortifications  which  nothing  but  delay  and  stupidity 
again  prevented  us  from  occupying.  This  was  the  last  part  of  July. 
Hancock  was  ordered  to  assault  again  the  rebel  works  at  or  near 
Chapin's  Bluff  ;  and  a  part  of  the  heavy  cannonading  which  Knox 
had  heard  across  the  James  about  the  middle  of  August,  was  this 
assault  on  the  12th,  in  which  a  part  of  his  own  10th  corps  was 
engaged,  General  Birney,  corps-commander,  though  the  assault  did 
not  succeed.  Lee  was  obliged  to  strengthen  his  forces  there,  by 
sending  troops  north  from  Petersburg  ;  taking  advantage  of  which, 
Warren  pushed  for  and  took  the  Weldon  R.R.,  south  of  Petersburg, 
one  of  the  chief  lines  of  rebel  communication.  The  enemy  came  on 
in  force  to  retake  Warren's  intrenched  position  astride  the  railroad, 
on  the  21st  of  August.  But  Warren  held  fast,  and  a  pause  of  a  month 
followed,  i.  e.,  till  about  the  25th  of  September.  Then  Grant 
ordered  Warren  to  advance  and  assault  on  the  left,  while  Butler  was 
to  make  a  heavier  assault  on  the  right.  Crossing  to  the  north  side  of 
the  James  River,  on  the  night  of  the  28th  of  September,  with  the  18th 
corps,  commanded  by  Ord,  and  the  10th  (Knox's)  corps,  commanded 
by  Birney,  Butler  struck  the  enemy's  fortifications  known  as  Fort  Harri- 
son, September  29th,  at  or  near  Chapin's  farm,  which  he  took,  capturing 
15  guns  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  intrenchments — Gen.  Ord, 
wounded;  Brig.-Gen.  Burnham,  killed;  alas!  with  the  loss  also,  of  our 
dear  boy's  life !  He  attempted  then  to  take  Fort  Gilmore,  the  next  fort 
in  order,  but  was  repulsed.  This  is  the  general  outline.  Now  let  us 
take  up  the  particulars  of  the  regiment  and  of  our  hero's  part  in  the 
action.  The  117th  regiment,  under  Major  Bagg,  was  in  the 


100  A   SKETCH. 

charge  upon  Petersburg  heights,  after  the  explosion  of  the  mine  on 
the  29th  of  July ;  but  Knox  had  been  relieved  by  the  doctor,  was  not 
able  to  march,  and  slept  soundly  the  whole  night.  On  the  30th  the 
regiment  marched  to  Bermuda  Hundreds,  on  which  day  so  many  fell 
out  sun-struck,  and  there  remained  for  defence  to  relieve  the  brigades 
which  went  over  the  James  and  to  Petersburg.  The  new  chaplain, 
Jones,  one  of  the  Hamilton  College  Alumni,  arrived  here  in  camp,  in 
company  with  Ellis  H.  Roberts,  of  the  Utica  Morning  Herald.  An 
assault  to  cut  the  railroad  from  Petersburg  to  Richmond  was  given 
up,  as  the  rebels  were  thought  to  be  in  full  force.  On  the  25th  of 
August,  the  rebels  made  a  sally  upon  them  and  captured  a'^out  17 
men  and  15  of  the  112th  regiment,  some  of  whom  went,  to  prison. 
Knox's  account  of  his  part  in  his  diary  is,  ''This  morning  the  John- 
nies drove  in  our  picket  on  my  right ;  some  of  my  men  ran  at  the  first 
fire,  and  I  was  obliged  to  retreat,  the  right  and  two  posts  on  my  left 
having  given  way.  I  retreated  a  short  distance  to  the  rear,  and  rally- 
ing 8  or  10  men,  formed  a  skirmish  line  and  returned  to  within  a  few 
rods  of  the  old  line.  After  dinner  a  detail  from  the  97th  Pennsylvania 
came  in  and  give  the  rebs  a  sharp  fire.  At  dusk  we  occupied  the 
line  again.''  A  letter  gives  additional  particulars.  "  I  arrived  on  the 
line  and  posted  my  pickets;  the  line  was  very  weak,  which  the  enemy 
must  have  noticed.  At  dark  we  posted  our  videttes  a  few  yards  in 
advance;  and  upon  going  to  relieve  them  at  the  expiration  of  an  hour, 
we  found  that  one  on  my  right  and  one  on  my  left  had  deserted. 
We  knew  not  what  information  they  might  convey  to  the  enemy,  and 
were  on  the  alert  afterwards.  The  night  passed  away  till  between  3 
and  4,  when  the  enemy  suddenly  opened  upon  us  and  made  a  charge. 
I  found  the  line  on  my  right  giving  way,  and  a  couple  of  pests  on  my 
left  had  gone,  and  was  obliged  to  back  out  myself  with  4  or  5  men 
through  a  field  of  fallen  timber.  There  I  halted,  and  rallied  10  or  12 
men,  deploying  them  as  skirmishers,  advanced  to  within  about  10  or 
12  rods  of  the  line,  from  which  I  was  driven  and  which  the  enemy 
still  held.  They  opened  fire  upon  us,  and  ordered  some  of  the  men 
to  surrender,  but  I  told  them  to  lay  low,  and  if  they  made  any  advance 
to  fire.  I  soon  found  the  left  of  the  line  and  joined  that,  keeping  my 
men  scouted  behind  the  fallen  trees  as  much  as  possible.  I  had  several 
balls  come  as  close  to  me  as  I  cared  Jor,  but  still  did  not  feel  the  least 
fear.  After  noon  a  det?il  from  the  9?th  Pennsylvania,  came  out  and 
deployed,  keeping  up  such  a  fire,  aided  by  my  signal,  that  the  John- 
nies fell  back  from  the  line  into  their  own  intrenchnients  ;  and  at  dusk 


A  SKETCH.  .  101 

I  again  took  possession  of  the  line,  and  was  relieved  at  about  10  P.M. 
I  returned  to  camp  and  found  everything  packed  ready  for  a  move, 
and  the  regiment  in  the  intrenchments,  except  the  cook  and  a  few 
sick.  This  morning  I  find  myself  a  little  stiff,  but  am  feeling  well, 
and  have  to  thank  an  ever  merciful  God  for  sparing  my  life  from  the 
missiles  of  death.  The  chaplain  is  writing  a  communication  to  the 
Herald,  but  I  presume  my  name  will  not  be  mentioned,  as  I  was  not 
with  the  other  men  from  our regi i  ent  who  were  driven  out  and  after- 
wards retook  the  picket  line."  Thence  they  moved  toward  Petersburg, 
King  close  to  the  Appomattox  (25th  or  27th  ?),  where  they  lay  in  the 
intrenchments,  and  where  a  shell  killed  a  man  in  Co.  F.  Another 
shell  passed  not  more  than  four  feet  over  the  head  of  Knox,  while  he 
was  eating  his  supper.  Another  shell  so  badly  injured  Henry  Miller,  a 
cousin  of  the  Augusta  Millers,  that  his  foot  was  amputated;  and  a 
piece  of  another  shell  gave  a  slight  scalp  wound  to  Albert  Sherman,  of 
Vernon.  In  the  midst  of  these  dangers  he  is  not  unmindful  of  their 
lessons,  and  his  own  words  have  great  significance  and  comfort, 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  he  had  entered  on  the  line  in  which  he 
fell.  "  I  have  great  reason  to  thank  God  that  my  life  and  health  have 
been  preserved  thus  far,  and  while  I  pray  each  day  for  a  continuance 
of  His  favor,  am  trying  to  live  a  consistent  Christian  life,  hoping 
that  I  may  be  preserved  to  return  to  a  quiet  home  once  more.  I 
make  many  allowances  for  the  future,  living,  as  it  were,  in  the  midst 
of  death.  I  have,  however,  a  consciousness  that  whatever  God's  will 
is  concerning  me  I  shall  not  murmur,  knowing  that  He  is  an  all-wise 
Being  and  will  do  all  things  well."  Deserters  came  in.  Loud 
cheers  were  sent  up  on  the  2d  of  September,  along  the  lines,  over  the 
fall  of  Atlanta,  Georgia,  under  Sherman.  Here  they  remained  for 
the  greater  part  of  a  tedious  month  in  the  trenches  and  out  of  them 
for  relieSpwith  incidents  like  the  following:  "A  combat  with  the 
Johnnies,  who  promised  not  to  fire  to-morrow;1'  the  execution  of  a 
private  which  Knox  reluctantly  witnessed ;  Lovell  from  Westmore- 
land, in  Co.  A,  instantly  kille/1  by  sharp-shooting ;  Kendall  is 
headquarters  clerk,  and  makes  out  report  of  casualties :  cheers  for 
Sheridan's  victory  over  Early  in  Shenandoah  Valley ;  salute  of  artillery 
for  the  victory;  heavy  cannonading  of  Bermuda;  drill,  etc.,  and  the 
conversations  representative  of  the  time.  Three  cheers  were  ordered 
to  l>e  given  along  the  lines  for  the  news  of  Sherman's  victory,  and 
right  heartily  was  the  order  complied  with.  Right  and  left,  front  and 
rear,  went  up  the  loud  "hurrahs."  The  Johnnies  replied  with  a 


102  .A  SKETCH. 

feeble  "  Ki-yi,"  at  which  our  boys  laughed  and  hallooed  over  to  them, 
"Hurrah  for  Sherman;"  "Where  is  Hood  now;"  "How  about 
Mobile ; "  and  "  Why  don't  you  take  the  Weldon  road  ;  "  ''  Come 
over  and  get  some  soft  bread,"  etc.  "  Lately  the  City  Point  Railroad 
has  been  extended  by  our  troops  to  meet  the  Weldon  road,  and  the 
cars  can  be  distinctly  heard  as  they  go  rumbling  over  the  hills.  One 
of  the  Johnnies  over  the  river  halooed  across  the  other  day  and  asked 
what  the  railroad  was  built  there  for,  to  which  one  of  our  boys  replied, 
'  To  transport  your  deserters  to  the  rear.'  The  Johnnie  had  nothing 
to  say.  Our  boys  have  given  several  of  the  rebel  batteries  names. 
One  over  the  river  threw  a  shell  through  a  cook's  kettle  of  soup  the 
other  day,  since  when  it  has  gone  by  the  name  of  '  soup-cooler/ 
Another  is  spoken  of  as  the  'Wild  Goose,'  from  a  fluttering  sound 
that  the  shell  makes  in  passing  through  the  air."  But  on  the  28th, 
orders  came  to  be  prepared  to  move.  At  3  P.M.  the  Brigades  and 
Corps  were  formed,  and  started  for  Deep  Bottom,  and  on  the  29th, 
arrived  at  Deep  Bottom  at  half-past  2  A.M.  ;  slept  an  hour,  when  they 
awoke.  The  last  words  of  his  diary  a;e  "went  to  the  front.'1'1  Colored 
troops  were  in  the  van,  and  their  progress  was  disputed  before  they 
had  advanced  a  mile.  They  carried  the  first  intrenched  line  of  the 
enemy.  A  second  line  was  carried  by  them,  and  then  the  colored 
troops  were  withdrawn.  A  skirmish  line  was  then  formed  from  the  2d 
Division,  and  the  whole  force  marched  rapidly  forward.  It  was  about 
four  miles  to  the  next  line.  The  troops  of  the  Division  were  in  three 
successive  lines,  and  were  making  their  way  through  thick  woodlands. 
A  rebel  battery  soon  poured  in  a  fierce  fire  from  a  height  ahead.  As 
the  112th  were  about  to  charge  it,  the  rebels  withdrew  it.  Here  as 
they  halted,  his  company  gathered  about  him  as  he  sat  on  a  log  ; 
he  encouraged  them  to  do  their  work  bravely,  saying  something  like 
this :  u  Boys,  keep  cool  when  you  are  ordered  to  charge,  artHrfeel  no 
fear  to-daj^^Two  hours  later,  Gen.  Birney  ordered  the  assault  of 
Fort  Gilmore^feL  miles  off".  It  was  a  terrible  work  to  do.  It  was  a 
heavy  earth-work,  protected  by  fallen  trees  with  their  tops  towards 
our  men.  The  points  of  the  projecting  limbs  were  too  high  to  step 
over,  and  too  low  to  pass  under.  As  the  troops  entered  these  "  Start- 
ings,"—  Knox  in  command  of  Co.  E  on  that  day — a  terrible  fire  poured 
in  upon  them,  shells,  grape,  canister,  musketry,  and  when  the  troops 
reached  a  corn-field,  a  cross  enfilading  fire.  Men  fell  on  every  side; 
some  were  wounded  in  two  or  more  places.  More  than  a  hundred 
•went  down  in  the  117th.  Company  E  bore  the  colors  on  that  day, 


A  SKETCH.  103 

which,  of  course,  made  its  officer  a  conspicuous  mark.  Our  brave  boy 
at  the  head  of  his  men,  cheered  on  the  company  uniil  he  was  struck 
by  a  bullet  which  passed  through  his  body  and  lodged  near  his  spine. 
While  walking  off  the  field,  supported  by  two  soldiers,  another  bullet 
struck  his  back,  cutting  his  belt  one-third  off,  passing  out  near  where 
the  first  one  entered.  As  the  men  laid  him  down  to  rest,  Babcock  of 
Sauquoit,  the  only  one  of  the  original  squad  who  was  outside  Augusta, 
and  who  was  attending  to  the  wounded,  appeared  with  a  stretcher, 
Knox  exclaiming,  "Thank  God,  there  is  Perry  Babcock.  He'll  get 
me  off  the  field."  Lindsley  and  Beach  had  either  fallen  or  had  been 
taken  prisoners,  Babcock  saw  Knox  taken  on  the  stretcher  to  the 
field  hospital,  where  he  remained  four  or  five  hours.  The  surgeon 
soon  told  him  that  his  wound  was  fatal.  He  received  the  intelligence 
calmly.  Kendall  had  also  been  detailed  to  look  after  wounded 
soldiers,  and  ascertaining  that  Knox  had  been  brought  in  wounded, 
went  to  him  and  remained  (as  Adjutant's  assistant)  with  him  till  he 
was  removed  from  the  field  hospital  at  9  o'clock  in  the  evening.  To 
him  Kuox  said,  (i  Tell  my  friends  I  had  hoped  to  meet  them  at  home, 
but  I  will  meet  them  in  heaven."  A  little  while  after,  as  Kend.ill  was 
thinking  that  he  was  the  last  man  of  the  original  Augusta  squad  in 
active  service,  Knox  pulled  down  the  handkerchief  which  protected 
his  face  from  the  sun,  and  said,  "Oh,  Ken.,  don't  feel  bad,  this  is  all 
right  or  it  wouldn't  have  happened."  At  nine  o'clock,  the  enemy 
pressing,  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  send  back  the  wounded.  When 
all  was  ready,  he  rose,  and  supported  by  Kendall  and  another,  he 
walked  to  the  ambulance.  In  pain  from  the  severity  of  hid  wounds, 
his  groans  fell  upon  the  driver's  ears,  all  the  way  to  the  river  landing, 
and  before  he  could  be  moved  from  the  ambulance,  in  order  to  take 
the  boat,  he  had  expired.  His  Uncle  William,  who,  two  or  three  days 
before,  had  arrived  at  City  Point,  though  so  close  at  hand,  received 
information  of  his  fall  only  by  telegram  from  Vermin  and  Wash- 
ington ;  and  could  only  discharge  his  office  of  cornfor.Kto  the  parents 
in  conducting  his  body  home,  where  the  last  sad  services  were 
celebrated  over  the  heroic  dead,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Darling,  of  Albany.  His  commission  as  captain  arrived  at  his 
regiment  a  few  days  after  his  death.  The  result  of  the  assault  was 
unsuccessful,  but  it  was  not  the  fault  of  the  brave  ranks.  Fort  Gilmore, 
indeed,  was  not  taken,  but  Knox's  father  was  told  in  Richmond, 
since  the  war  closed,  by  a  Southern  soldier  in  Fort  Gilmore  at  the 
time,  that  had  the  early  morning  charge  which  took  Fort  Harrison,  been 


104  A  SKETCH. 

followed  up  promptly  in  tbe  forenoon,  they  would  undoubtedly  have 
taken  Fort  Gilraore  early  and  would  have  gone  into  Richmond.  Gen. 
Ord,  however,  had  been  wounded  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Harrison  and 
that  occasioned  the  fatal  delay. 

The  noble  117th,  however,  did  valiant  service  at  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C., 
four  mouths  later,  planting  first  the  Stars  and  Stripes  on  the  heights 
of  that  ''impregnable"  strong  bank,  and  six  months  later,  at  the 
grand  triumph,  Knox's  Uncle  Charles,  advancing  from  the  battle- 
field of  Chapin's  Farm,  assisted  to  bear  the  first  Christian  Commission 
banner  into  Richmond,  and  slept  in  peace  and  quietness  under  the 
sweet  music  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner"  in  one  of  the  mansions 
of  Capitol  Square. 


Thus  fell  our  brave  boy,  who  spent  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his  life 
in  the  gooi  house  in  Vernon;  whose  sixteenth  year  was  in  company 
with  Charlie  Warren,  of  Albany,  at  Broad  Albin,  under  Rev.  Mr.  Mon- 
teith;  whose  seventeenth  year  was  at  Mr.  Bristol's  school  at  Clinton ;  and 
who  spent  the  year  1856  as  his  Uncle  Charlie's  room-mate  at  Hamil- 
ton College.  A  more  important  time  of  his  early  life  was  the  period 
from  1857  to  1861,  which  he  spent  largely  in  Vernon,  in  which  two 
important  things  occurred:  the  first,  his  Christian  conversion  during 
the  great  revival  of  1857,  and  the  second,  a  few  months  at  Eastman's 
Commercial  College  in  Oswego.  The  one  was  the  foundation  of 
that  religious  condition  of  mind  which  gradually  revealed  itself 
during  the  war,  as  a  quiet,  undemonstrative,  but  decided  and  manly 
Christian  character,  a  character  which  endured  temptation  without 
falling,  and  which  stood  up  for  his  God  in  company  meetings 
and  regimental  church  as  modestly  and  bravely  as  he  faced  the 
bullets  of  the  enemy.  The  other  helped  to  form  the  business  ha'  its  of  a 
naturally  orderly  and  persevering  mind,  until  the  clerkship  of  a 
year  in  his  uncle's  store  in  1861  to  '62,  more  fully  furnished  him  for 
the  large  amount  of  clerical  work  which  he  did  so  well  in  the  army. 
He  had  been  forming  strong  friendships,  which  would  have  lasted  for 
life.  Those  nearest  him  were  most  attached  to  him.  His  tent-mates 
had  a  warm  attachment  to  him.  His  bed-mate  for  many  months, 


A  SKETCH.  105 

said  that  he  loved  him  as  a  brother.  Ilis  company  respected  him. 
His  officers  honored  his  fidelity  and  conscientiousness. 

Col.  Daggett  praised  the  uniform  and  excellent  condition  in  which 
he  kept  his  papers,  and  commended  his  fidelity  to  his  company  and  to 
his  men,  and  said :  "  There  was  no  better  officer  in  the  company  than 
he."  And  when  the  Colonel  had  become  Gen.  Daggett,  he  voluntarily 
sa;d  afterwards — "  I  can  say  of  your  son,  Mr.  Williams,  what  I  can  say  of 
few  officers — he  was  a  gallant  officer,  beloved  by  his  company,  noted 
for  his  reticence.  Whenever  detailed  to  special  service,  he  always  re- 
ceived it  by  saving:  'Give  me  my  orders,  and  I  will  do  the  best  I 
can.'  And  when  he  returned  he  made  his  report  without  boasting, 
and  went  modestly  to  his  regular  duties."  His  lieutenant,  when  he 
fell,  said :  u  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  all  his  company  because  he 
had  no  favorites,  but  treated  them  fairly  and  impartially." 

His  chaplain  declared  him  faithful  to  religious  duties,  and  said  of 
his  fall :  "  There  fell  a  true  man  and  a  Christian." 

Always  neat  in  person,  careful  and  exact  in  citizen  and  military 
dress,  reticent  in  speech,  perhaps  in  his  early  years  slightly  suspicious 
in  manner ;  he  shook  from  him  his  boyish  characteristics,  and  was 
developing  a  strength  of  character  which  we  little  thought  he  pos- 
sessed. Had  he  been  spared  to  us,  we  should  see  him  to-day,  the 
true  man,  and  the  firm  Christian,  whose  real  career  began  with  his 
patriotic  committal  to  his  brave  comrades,  as  a  volunteer.  We  love 
him  for  his  work's  sake.  We  cherish  his  memory.  We  enshrine 
him  in  our  household.  His  name  shall  stand  to  us  in  golden  letters, 
associated  with  the  Golden  Wedding.  His  military  career,  lustrous 
with  a  glowing  patriotism,  thrice  beautiful  now  in  his  noble  death, 
shall  shine  forth  from  this  time  as  with  the  light  of  diamonds.  Com- 
paratively humble  though  his  service  was,  it  was  as  faithful  as  that 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  far  more  creditable  to  himself  and  to 
us,  than  that  of  many  who  wore  the  stars  of  a  general. 

He  laid  down  his  all  for  the  preservation  of  his  country — his  occu- 
pations, his  prospects,  his  labors,  his  domestic  attachments,  bis  life. 
When  he  could  have  been  mustered  out  some  months  after  his  return 


106  MEMBERS  OF  THE  FAMIL  Y 

from  the  Golden  Wedding,  he  resolutely  re-enlisted  for  the  war;  and 
as  his  Christian  character  grew  month  by  month,  and  year  by  year 
in  him,  life  and  all  things  dear  were  not  surrendered  simply  for  coun- 
try's sake,  but  in  defence  of  Christianity  and  of  God. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  FAMILY 

PRESENT  AT  THE 

DIAMOND    WEDDING 


JOHN  J.  KNOX,  KNOXBOKO. 
SARAH  ANN  KNOX. 
EMMA  LOUISA  KNOX. 

THOMAS  WILLIAMS,  VEKNON. 
ELIZA  ANN  WILLIAMS. 

CORDELIA  L.  ANDERSON,  NEW  YORK. 

JOHN  FABBE. 

EDWARD  C.  ANDERSON,  NEW  YORK. 
MRS.  ELIZA  M.  ANDERSON. 
SARAH  KNOX  ANDERSON. 
GEORGE  D.  SMITH,  TROT,  N.  Y. 
ADELAIDE  STRONG  SMITH. 

GEORGE  LEONARD  SMITH. 

JAMES  CTJRTISS  KNOX,  KNOXBORO,  AT  "THE  OTHER  HOUSE. 
MARY  ELIZABETH  KNOX. 

JAMES  THEODORE  KNOX. 
MRS.  LUCY  ANNA  KNOX. 
WILLIAM  STRONG  KNOX. 
MART  LOUISA  KNOX. 


PRESENT  A  T  THE  DIAMOND    WEDDIXG.  107 


WILLIAM  EATON  KNOX,  ELMiRA.]o<^;e  dL  o-*-  ftLt*-*  / 

r  jS-fJ-J*  i  " •    ^^  -   Pt>  trt-* 

ALICE  WOODWARD  KNOX. 


I  I*    2.0 
MART  ALICE  KNOX. 

GEORGE  WILLIAM  KNOX. 
ROBERT  JENKES  KNOX. 
JOHN  HENRY  KNOX,  UTICA. 

CHARLES  RHODES,  OSWEGO. 
MART  THOMAS  RHODES. 

BENJAMIN  RHODES. 

CATHERINE  TAYLOR  RHODES. 

SARAH  KNOX  RHODES. 

WILLIAM  NEIL  STRONG,  ALBANY. 
SARAH  ADELAIDE  STRONG. 

FRANCES  ADELAIDE  STRONG. 

JOHN  KNOX  RHODES. 

JOHN  JAY  KNOX,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
CAROLINE  E.  KNOX. 
CAROLINE  TODD  KNOX. 

HENRY  MARTYN  KNOX,  ST.  PAUL,  MINN. 
CHARLOTTE  B.  KNOX. 

CARRIE  KNOX. 

HENRY  COZZENS  KNOX. 

CHARLES  E.  KNOX,  BLOOMFIELD,  N.  J. 
SARAH  FAKE  KNOX. 

CHARLES  RHODES  KNOX. 

MARY  FAKE  KNOX. 

FREDERICK  JAY  KNOX. 

HERBERT  EUGENE  KNOX. 

HELEN  THEODOSIA  KNOX. 

GUESTS  AT  THE  HOMESTEAD. 

MRS.  ELIZA  (JOHN  A.)  WILLIAMS,  Philadelphia,  daughter  of  JAMES, 
son  of  WILLIAM  KNOX,  of  Hartford,  Conn. 
MRS.  FRANCES  CURTISS  KNAPP,  Utica,  N.  Y. 


The  memorial  service  for  Rev.  Dr/Knox  was 
held  in  the  First  Church  in  Elmira  last  Sun- 
day afternQ&n^-The  church  was  appropriately 
draped,  and  the  floral  decorations  were  very 
beautiful.  President  Cowles  of  Elmira  College 
presided.  Touching  and  excellent  addresses 
were  made  by  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  K.  Beecher, 
the  senior  pastor  in  the  city,  Rev.  Dr.  Mc- 
Knight,  senior  Episcopal  rector,  and  Rev.  M. 
S.  Hard,  senior  Methodist  minister.  The  sing- 
ing was  exceptionally  tine,  the  choir  rendering 
some  of  the  pieces  that  were  known  to  be  spe- 
cial favorites  of  Dr.  Knox.  Other  clergymen 
took  other  parts  in  the  service.  The  closing 
address  was  by  Dr.  Cowles.  The  occasion  was 
altogether  a  most  happy  tribute  of  affection 
and  esteem  for  the  lamented 


IEV.  DR.  WILLIAM  EATON  KNOX. 
ie  Intelligence  can  hardlj  to  be  un 

xpected,  the  announcement  of  the  death  of 
tev.  WILLIAM  E.  KNOX,  D.   I).,  will  be  re. 
eived   \vitli  sincere  regret  in  all  of  central 
few  York.     Dr.  KNOX  had  for  years  suffered 
rorn  pulmonary  troubles,  and  seemed  to  sus- 
-iiiu  himself  by  his  strong  will  and  intense 
nervous  force.     During  the  summer  he  has 
\ingreliefat  various  points,  and  he 
died  on  Monday  afternoon   at  Blue  Mountain 
lake  in  the  Adiroudacks.     He  had  been  there 
early  in  July,  and  appeared  to  be  grow- 
ing better  and  stronger.     He  was  preparing 
to  come  down  to  lower  altitude.     A  series  of 
severe  storms  during  the  ^nrst  two  weeks  of 
•inber  seemed  to   prostrate  him  rapidly, 
rode  a  mile  and  a  half   to   attend  ser- 
vice last  Sunday  morning,  and  on  Monday 
while  appearing  very  feeble,  he  said,  with  his 
usual  hopefulness,  "I  shall  be  better  to-mor- 
row."   At  4  p.  M.  Monday  he  lay  down,  ac- 
cording to  his  custom,  to  rest,  and  in  half  an 
hour  he  quietly  entered  upon  his  eternal  rest. 
He  was  a  native  of  Knoxboro,  in  this  coun- 
,  born  Oct.  16, 1820,  a  son  of  JOHN  J.  KNOX, 
uul  was  loyal  to  his  home,  and  to  all  of  the 
interests    of  central   New    York.     He    was 
graduated  at  Hamilton  college  in  1840,  in  the 
with  Professor  T.  W.   DWIGHT,   Rev. 
Dis.   HE:TRY  KENDALL,  L.  M.  MILLER  and 
HENHY   A.  NELSON,   and  Hon.  G.  W.  SCO- 
FFED, register  of  the  treasury.     His  theolog- 
ical studies  were  pursued  at  Auburn.     His 
first  pastorate  was  at  Watertown.    For  twenty- 
three  years  he  was  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian   church  in    Rome,    and   for    tour 
teen    years    has    tilled     the    pulpit    of    the 
First  Presbyterian  church  in  Elmira,  where 
his  loss  will    now    be  especially  fel:.     The 
degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
Hamilton  college  in  1865,  and  he  was  unani- 
iy  chosen  a  trustee  of  that  institution  in 
1876,  to   succeed  his  venerable  father,  then 
lately  deceased.     He  was  enthusiastic  in  his 
devotion  to  the  college,  was  constant  in  his 
attendance    at    commencement,    often     the 
syraposiarch  at  the  commencement  dinners, 
and  diligent  at  trustee  meetings  and  in  every 
ont  for  higher  education  in  his  native 
county.     He   was  one  of  the  foremost  pro- 
moters of  the  plan  for  raising  a  presbyteriau 
endowment  tor  Hamilton  college.  His  absence 
from  the  commencement  last  June  v. 


THE  DEPARTED  BROTHERS— HATFIELD  AND  KNOX. 

By  Anson  Smyth,  D.D. 
^rlffl^.4.  ft  vv?v  C-v^rto  ij[^  j(    Cleveland,  Sept.  28,  1883. 

Dear  Dr.  Field:  There °wfll ^b'e'  no  want  of 
eulogies  of  these  noble  and  blessed  men,  and 
my  right  to  speak  of  them  I  acknowledge  is 
not  greater  than  that  of  many  others.  I  will, 
therefore,  confine  myself  to  a  brief  notice. 

Of  Dr.  Hatfield.  Within  the  lines  in  which 
his  life-work  lay  he  was  preeminent,  and  no 
man  of  our  Church  could  die  and  leave  behind 
him  more  hearts  to  mourn  his  death. 

Though  I  had  known  this  dear  brother  by 
reputation  as  a  pastor  of  almost  marvellous 
success,  my  personal  acquaintance  with  him 
began  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly 
at  Detroit  in  1850,  thirty-three  years  ago.  He 
was  then  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly,  having 
been  elected  in  1846.  How  well  do  I  remember 
his  attractive  features,  being  then  but  forty- 
four  years  of  age.  And  how  well  do  I  remem- 
ber the  cloud  that  passed  over  his  countenance 
when  a  telegram  informed  him  of  the  sudden 
death  of  a  daughter.  Calling  Dr.  Erskine  Ma- 
son to  the  platform,  he  turned  over  to  him  his 
clerical  duties,  and  hurried  away  to  his  dark- 
ened home  in  New  York.  During  the  session 
of  the  Assembly  in  1863  in  Philadelphia,  it  was 
my  good  fortune  to  be  assigned  to  the  same  ex- 
cellent lodgings  with  Dr.  Hatfield,  Dr.  McLain 
of  Williamsburgh,  and  elder  William  S.  Grif- 
fith of  Brooklyn.  They  were  all  by  a  good 
many  years  my  seniors  in  age,  as  also  in  wis- 
dom and  goodness,  and  how  greatly  did  I  en- 
joy the  two  weeks  that  I  was  with  them.  I 
had  frequent  conversations  with  Dr.  Hatfield, 
and  found  him  to  be  a  brother  whom  it  was 
very  easy  to  love.  Subsequently  I  met  him  in 
several  Assemblies,  but  of  my  further  acquaint- 
ance with  him  until  last  Spring,  I  will  not 
speak. 

About  the  first  of  last  May  I  wrote  him,  say- 
ing that  on  account  of  his  eminent  services  in 
the  Church,  and  his  preeminent  qualifications 
for  the  position,  he  ought  to  be  elected  Mod- 
erator of  the  forthcoming  Assembly,  and  with 
his  permission  I  would  be  happy  to  exert  any 
influence  that  I  might  possess  to  secure  his 
election.  He  replied,  thanking  me  for  my  let- 
ter, but  saying  that  if  the  office  should  come  to 
him  he  would  endeavor  to  perform  faithfully 
its  duties,  but  that  he  could  not  in  any  way 
seek  the  position,  as  he  had  never  asked  for 
any  office,  in  the  Church  or  out  of  it.  When 
we  met  at  Saratoga.  kno\\insr  tha.t  spvpm.i  pmi. 


work  we  spent  more  tliuii  half  the  ni-iit 
From  tluit  hour  (in  the  Assembly  closed;  he 
must  have  found  his  office  excec.lin-ly  trying 
to  the  strength  of  a  man  in  his  seventy-seventh 
year.  To  preside  over  six  hundred  commis- 
sioners, to  direct  their  work  and  decide  the 
many  appeals  that  were  made  to  him,  to  reply 
t<>  deletes  from  corresponding  bodies, and  to 
preach  both  Lord's  days,  would  test  the  endur- 
ance of  the  most  stalwart  man  in  the  Assem- 
bly. All  these  duties  he  performed  to  the  ad- 
miration of  all. 

From  the  Assembly  he  went  to  the  great 
work  of  preparing  the  Minutes,  a  volume  of 
almost  six  hundred  pages,  much  of  the  work 
consisting  of  the  tabulation  of  three  hundred 
pages  of  statistics.  His  life  was  spared  till 
this  great  work  was  completed,  and  then  he 
was  not,  for  God  took  him. 

During  the  Summer  I  had  several  letters 
from  him,  in  one  of  which  he  stated  that  in 
consequence  of  his  bad  health,  the  publication 
the  Minutes  would  be  delayed,  expressing 
his  indebtedness  to  Dr.  Eoberts,  the  Perma- 
nent Clerk,  for  valuable  assistanc  -. 

In  his  farewell  address  to  the  Assembly,  Dr. 
Brown  of  Virginia  said  that  he  would  like  to 
take  Dr.  Hatfleld  home  with  him,  that  he 
might  preside  over  the  Southern  Assembly 
next  Spring  at  Vicksburg.  But  the  dear  man 
has  gone  to  "the  General  Assembly  and 
Church  of  the  first-born  which  are  written  in 
heaven,  and  to  God,  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to 
the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to 
Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant." 

Of  Dr.   William  E.  Knox  I  might  say  much, 
but  must  say  little,  for  many  others  may  claim' 
the  right  to  be  heard  in  his  praise.    In  some 
respects  his  life  touched  mine  more  closely 
than  did  that  of  Dr.  Hatfield.    It  is  true  that 
pur  residences  were  far  apart,  and  our  meet- 
ings not  frequent.    More  than  thirty  years  ago 
in  Toledo,  he  married  Miss  Alice  Jenks,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  which  I  was  pastor,  and 
during  my  residence  there  of  nine  years,  he 
several  times  visited  the  city  and  preached  in 
y  pulpit.    It  did  not  require  great  length  of 
time  to  make  thorough  acquaintance  with  him 
for  lie  was  genial,  fraternally  social,  open-heart- 
1.  and  outspoken  beyond  most  of  the  minis- 
ters that  I  have  ever  known.    He  came  to  my 
home,  where  we  had  lively  times,  which  to  me 
ere  most  grateful.      "The  Fox  girls"  with 
their   raps,  table'-tippings,   and    spiritualistic 
'Oleries,  were  then  beginning  to  make  a  noise 


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